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Annexation Process

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1. Are there five elections?

Five separate areas will vote on annexation March 19. Each area’s registered voters will vote in only that area’s election and can choose to join Palm Beach Gardens or not. Any or all of the five areas can vote to annex into the City independently – they don’t impact each other.

2. What are the five areas?

Area One generally includes Cabana Colony; neighborhoods along Prosperity Farms Rd. between Donald Ross Road and PGA Blvd.; neighborhoods and businesses between the Intracoastal Waterway and U.S. 1 and between PGA Blvd. and Pleasant Dr.; Captain’s Key and Hidden Key. 

Area Two is generally the west side of Ellison Wilson Rd. south of PGA Boulevard. 

Area Three is Pirate’s Cove. 

Area Four generally includes Monet Acres and Monet Heights. 

Area Five is Monet Gardens. 

To confirm if you are in a proposed annexation area, use this map.

3. Who gets to vote?

Here’s how it works: The City Council offers annexation to a geographical area. Then voters inside that area have an election. If a majority of those voters choose to annex, the area becomes part of Palm Beach Gardens.

Only voters in the annexation areas get to vote whether to join the City or remain in unincorporated County.

4. What does a YES vote or NO vote mean?

Your YES vote means you prefer to join Palm Beach Gardens. Your NO vote means you prefer to stay in unincorporated County.

If a majority of voters in the proposed area vote YES, that area will become part of Palm Beach Gardens. If a majority of voters in an area vote NO, that area will stay unincorporated, and nothing will change.

5. When and how will the vote occur?

The vote will be March 19, 2024. This will be a normal election conducted by the Supervisor of Elections. All registered voters in the annexation areas are eligible to vote. You can vote by mail, early vote, or at your polling location on March 19.

6. When would annexation go into effect?

If voters agree to annexation, the change would occur October 1, 2024.

7. Are other Cities proposing annexations too?

North Palm Beach and Juno Beach are now researching trying to annex some of the same areas in the proposed Palm Beach Gardens annexations. Regardless of what they do, voters will have the opportunity to choose to annex into Palm Beach Gardens on March 19, 2024.

8. What would annexation save or cost me?

Let’s use an example of a house with a taxable value of $250,000 with curbside trash collection. Let’s say you spend $300 a month on all your utilities (electric, water & sewer, and gas) and another $300 a month on communications (cell phone, cable/TV, streaming like Netflix and your landline). You would save $274.95 a year. 

Let’s use a second example of a taxable value of $411,250. Using those same estimates for trash, utilities and telecommunications, annexation would cost you $1.10 a year – basically you break even. 

For your property’s estimated savings or cost, please contact John Boehm, jboehm@pbgfl.com, 561-799-4238.

9. Can you explain my annexation cost or savings in another way?

You’ll pay more in property taxes, but save money on solid waste collection, utility taxes and communications taxes. The City pays $281 of every curbside collection solid waste bill, doesn’t tax utilities at all, and has lower communications taxes. Using conservative estimates, 70% of the properties in the annexation areas will save money by annexing into Palm Beach Gardens.

10. What’s my taxable value?

Taxable value is what the Tax Collector uses to calculate property taxes. It’s not what you see on Zillow or how much you could sell your property for. Taxable value is after you subtract the Save Our Homes discount, $50,000 Homestead Exemption, and any additional exemptions you might qualify for. You can look up your taxable value at the Property Appraiser’s website.

Annexation will not change taxable values.

11. Where would savings come from?

On all your utility bills, there is a line item for local taxes. The County charges 10% tax on all your electric, water & sewer, and gas. Palm Beach Gardens does not tax utilities. That 10% tax would come off all your utility bills.

On your telecommunications bills, there is a line item for local taxes. The County charges a higher rate than Palm Beach Gardens. Your taxes would go down on every cell phone, cable/TV, streaming and phone bills.

On your property tax bill, there is a line item for Solid Waste Authority. The City pays a portion of every resident’s solid waste bill. A single-family home with curbside pickup will save about 60% on trash and recycling.

12. Who will pay more after annexation?

Everyone will pay Palm Beach Gardens’ slightly higher property tax rate, and everyone will save on solid waste, utilities and communications bills. However, expensive properties will probably pay more in property taxes than their savings in other areas. Specific areas of costs and savings are outlined above.

To calculate the effect on your specific property, please contact John Boehm, jboehm@pbgfl.com, 561-799-4238.

13. Why do people on social media say Palm Beach Gardens taxes are super high?

We don’t really know. Palm Beach Gardens’ reputation as an upscale community may lead people to believe taxes are high, but the numbers don’t lie. Palm Beach Gardens’ property tax rate is slightly higher than unincorporated rates, but the City doesn’t tax utilities, pays a portion of every resident’s trash bill and has a lower communication tax rate.

Palm Beach Gardens compares favorably to other cities. Palm Beach Gardens property tax rate is 5.17 mills including fire. Juno Beach residents pay a total of 5.28 mills, the Juno tax rate of 1.82 mills and the County Fire tax of 3.46 mills. The North Palm Beach property tax rate is 6.9 mills, but they do not pay the County library tax of .5599 mills.

14. What would it cost if we were to annex into Juno Beach?

Very simply, it would cost you more to be in Juno Beach than Palm Beach Gardens. Juno Beach taxpayers continue to pay the County fire tax as well as Juno Beach’s operating millage for a total of 5.28 mills, compared to Palm Beach Gardens lower rate of 5.17 mills. 

Additionally, Juno Beach doesn’t offer reduced trash collection, no utility taxes and reduced telecommunication taxes like Palm Beach Gardens, so you’d miss out on those savings too.

15. What would it cost if we were to annex into North Palm Beach?

Very simply, it would cost you more than joining Palm Beach Gardens. The North Palm Beach property tax rate is 6.9 mills, but they do not pay the County library tax of .5599 mills.

Additionally, you would still have to pay the 10% utility tax and the higher telecommunications tax rate.

16. What is Palm Beach Gardens tax history?

Palm Beach Gardens has lowered the property tax rate eight times in the last ten years. The two years the rate was not lowered, the rate stayed the same. And in 2020, Palm Beach Gardens retired all their municipal debt.

The City is professionally managed and fiscally sound. 

17. What is the Palm Beach Gardens approach to policing?

Palm Beach Gardens Police Officers are assigned to community patrol zones and would regularly patrol your neighborhood. Our community policing approach focuses on crime prevention, which fosters a partnership with community members and keeps our residents and businesses safe.  

18. How do Palm Beach Gardens police response times compare?

The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department boasts an average response time of 3 to 5 minutes to emergency calls inside the city. Your existing law enforcement agency has a response time between 8 to 15 minutes.

19. Will Palm Beach Gardens hire more police officers?

All areas would have officers assigned to them and receive more patrols. If Area 1 approves annexation, Palm Beach Gardens plans to hire an additional 18 officers. Because of the compact nature of areas 2-5, we could meet our policing standards without hiring additional officers.

20. Will service change for Fire & EMS?

The closest truck is always dispatched to emergency calls. Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue already responds to about 70% of the calls inside the proposed annexation areas, so you won’t see a big change. You will continue to receive service from outstanding firefighters with advanced medical training and state-of-the-art equipment.

21. Is Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue invested in the community?

The City’s Fire Rescue enjoys the support of the Palm Beach Gardens Police and Fire Foundation, which raises money to support our community engagement. We offer station tours, Exit Drills in the Home (EDITH), Stop-Drop and Roll, fire extinguisher training, hands-only CPR training, Suits for Seniors and our annual Toy Drive.

22. What is Palm Beach Gardens Storm Response?

When it comes to storms, readiness is the key. Palm Beach Gardens pre-positions storm response teams at key locations throughout the city allowing us to go to work immediately, clearing roads and helping where needed. Our teams were onsite assisting residents and removing debris just thirty minutes following the touchdown of a recent tornado.

23. Is Palm Beach Gardens going to make our neighborhood change?

Is it not the intent of the City to disrupt or change your neighborhood. We value and respect the unique character of all the proposed annexation areas. We’ll work with your community to balance the benefits of joining Palm Beach Gardens with your neighborhood’s personality. 

24. What can we expect for Code Enforcement?

Our priority is safety and community enhancement through code assistance, not enforcement and fines. Our Community Action Support Team works with residents to understand their needs and find innovative solutions. We’ve even used grants (not city money) to install windows and repair aging roofs. It’s another way we keep Palm Beach Gardens special while working with our citizens. 

25. Can I still park my work truck at home?

Yes, work trucks will be allowed. Palm Beach Gardens will honor current County codes. What is legal now will continue to be allowed.

26. How does Palm Beach Gardens maintain roads, sidewalks, stormwater…?

Palm Beach Gardens prides itself on proactive infrastructure maintenance to avoid potential problems. Where appropriate, Palm Beach Gardens expects to take over responsibility for roads, sidewalks, stormwater, street sweeping, mosquito control and canal maintenance. Needed repairs will be made quickly and regular maintenance would be rolled into our ongoing schedule.

27. My neighborhood could use some improvements, like stormwater and sidewalks or converting to sewer. Would the City do that?

Generally, the City could help with things like that. The City regularly works with neighborhoods on solving those kinds of issues. The ways we do it vary greatly because every situation is different. We’d have to review your specific area and concern, but in many cases, we can help fix those challenges.   

In the past the City has used grants and/or the Neighborhood Improvement Assessment Program to provide improvements in certain communities.  

If you want to understand for your specific concern and options, please email Todd Engle, P.E., City Engineer.

28. Will Palm Beach Gardens clean up the canal by my home?

The City expects to take over some canals, like the one between Cabana Colony and Frenchman’s Reserve. The City regularly cleans out canals to improve water management and control pests. To find out about your particular canal, you can email John Boehm.

29. Will Palm Beach Gardens spray for mosquitos?

Palm Beach Gardens sprays regularly in the summer months. We’re confident we can improve mosquito control in the proposed areas.

30. How does the City respond to citizen concerns?

Residents can conveniently report a pothole, downed street sign, or other maintenance issues. The Palm Beach Gardens team responds to citizen concerns within 24 hours, with immediate response to safety issues day or night.   

31. Why does everyone talk so much about your Parks & Recreation programs?

Palm Beach Gardens is proud of our investment in parks and recreation options for our residents. Tennis, pickleball, golf, aquatics, summer camp, senior programs and the arts – Palm Beach Gardens has it all. We even run a licensed childcare facility. See our most recent offerings. 

32. Do residents pay lower rates for your recreation programs?

Yes. Residents always enjoy priority entry and discounts. Non-resident rates can be as high as double resident rates. 

33. How often would we get trash and recycling?

Palm Beach Gardens collects household waste twice a week. Yard debris and recycling are collected once a week.

34. I have well water and/or septic instead of using Seacoast. Will I be required to hook up?

Palm Beach Gardens doesn’t operate a water utility and annexation would not require any change to your well and/or septic. 

35. How would I have a say in Palm Beach Gardens government?

As a Palm Beach Gardens citizen, you would vote for all five City Councilmembers. City Hall is just down the street. We pride ourselves on being an accessible and responsive government. 

36. What happens to my County representation?

You’ll still elect a representative to the County Commission. But you’ll also have five Palm Beach Gardens elected officials who will work with the County on your behalf. For example, the City can’t make a change on a County road, but the City can advocate for things like stop lights or turn lanes.

37. Would my Utilities change?

Nope. FPL will still provide your electricity. Palm Beach Gardens does not operate a water utility, so Seacoast would still provide water and sewer services. If you have a well or septic system, nothing would change. And, if you have gas service, you’ll continue with your current provider. 

38. Will my child’s school change?

The Palm Beach County School District sets school zoning and busing options. Annexation into Palm Beach Gardens will not change that. 

39. I have a North Palm Beach address. How will I be affected?

Annexation will have no effect on mail delivery and your service will not be interrupted. The postal service will deliver packages using either North Palm Beach or Palm Beach Gardens.  

The US Postal Service is responsible for addresses, but your zip code will not change.

40. Will my homestead exemptions or Save Our Homes protection change?

It will not. Homestead Exemptions including initial Save Our Homes and any additional homestead exemptions you have (like military or low-income senior) will stay the same. 

41. Will annexation cause my taxable value to be reassessed?

No. Annexation will not change your taxable value. The City does not appraise or assess homes. The County Property Appraiser does assessments annually. Annexation has no impact. 

42. What about Special Districts or PACE Assessments?

Both would stay the same. Annexation would not impact Special Districts or PACE agreements.

43. Can we keep our private road?

Yes. Private roads would stay as they are now.