October 31, 2007

West Palm Beach , FL -- Today, Tax Collector Anne M. Gannon announced the return of nearly $48 Million to Palm Beach County in excess fees and revenues collected for the 2006/2007 tax year. The Tax Collector’s office collected $66,906,117 for services provided during this budget year. Revenues collected in excess of the Tax Collector’s operating budget ($18.9 M) are required by statute to be returned proportionately to all Taxing Authorities. Excess revenues remitted to the General Fund and the citizens of Palm Beach County are approximately $39,925,791 and today a check for that amount was forwarded to Palm Beach County. The remaining revenues were distributed proportionately among the other taxing authorities.

Excess revenues are a product of two factors. First, Palm Beach County’s property tax base grew creating more tax revenue. Second, Tax Collector Gannon implemented numerous cost-saving initiatives to operate her office more efficiently. Those initiatives include:

• A queue management system that directs customers, according to their transaction type, to specialists trained to serve those specific transactions. The system allows the office to measure transactions and create more efficient processes.
• Technology improvements that replace antiquated paper systems update property and business tax processes and monitor incoming customer calls.
• Updated website to allow more convenient on-line payments, and less staff-intensive phone and counter transactions.

Other Fiscal Year 2006-2007 results are:

• Motor Vehicles
• Registered 1,200,000 vehicles
• Collected $56.6 Million in vehicle registration fees
• Property Taxes
• Issued 647,000 property tax bills
• Collected $3.3 Billion in property tax payments
• Business Tax Receipts
• Issued 97,000 business tax receipts
• Collected $4.7 Million in business tax payments
• Collected 26.8 Million in Tourist Development Taxes
• Registered 43,000 Vessels
• Issued 37,000 Disabled Parking Permits
• Processed 3,200 Hunting and Fishing Licenses