| The Florida Constitution,
Title IV, establishes the county Tax Collectors as independent
government agencies. They are referred to as Constitutional
Officers. Tax Collectors are elected for 4-year terms in the
same year as the presidential election.
The Tax Collector's Office:
The Florida Constitution set up the Tax Collector as an independent
agency so it would be free from influence by local or state
agencies that have the power to levy taxes.
The Tax Collector's Office is not funded by tax dollars…it
is a fee-based office. The fees collected for the services
provided are used to fund the operating budget which is approved
by the Florida Department of Revenue. The work volume and
cost-effective operations results in fee revenues well in
excess of the budget. This “additional revenue"
is returned to the local government agencies, including the
county, in proportion to the amount they pay. As a result,
these local agencies receive tax collection services at low
cost and the community is better served.
The Tax Collector is the only Palm Beach County official
with the authority and resources to manage both state and
local revenue programs. The Tax Collector is a vital link
between the citizens and the diverse programs that affect
them. The Tax Collector insures that both government agencies
and individual citizens are treated equitably.
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