​Commissioner Hal Valeche

As we enter the New Year, the Board of County Commissioners welcomes new members, a new governor is taking office and new leaders have emerged to guide the State House and Senate.

On the local level, our job as commissioners is to provide a high level of public services while remaining fiscally responsible.  This includes working with our legislative delegation and the Florida Cabinet to ensure that revenue dollars return to Palm Beach County to leverage our investments in facilities and programs.

The County Commission and lobbyists representing Palm Beach County interests coordinate with our delegation members and other statewide organizations such as the Florida Association of Counties to request appropriations for vital projects and programs, and to support sound legislation.  We also actively oppose the imposition of any legislative mandates from the State that do not provide a recurring revenue stream, and that would otherwise create a negative impact on our budget.

In 2019, we are advocating for bills and appropriations in a variety of areas and here are examples of just some of the issues on Palm Beach County's legislative agenda:

Economic Development:  The County supports investments for the construction of infrastructure and housing in the Glades Region and for biomedical research, ecotourism, and business expansions throughout the county.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health: We are asking for increased funding for mental health providers and programs to tackle the opioid epidemic and support legislation to increase oversight of sober homes.

Health and Human Services:  Over numerous years, the legislature has redirected dollars from the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund to help balance the state budget.  We want to ensure that the Fund provides for affordable housing.
Palm Beach County is seeing a growing number of homeless students, seniors and veterans.  We need the Legislature to help us provide wraparound services for these populations and support our local Hunger Relief Plan, as well as increase transportation funding for low-income residents who must rely on public transit.

Budget and Taxation:  I have received calls from constituents reporting problems caused by short-term rental properties in established neighborhoods.  State law currently prevents counties and cities from regulating vacation rentals if the local regulations were not in place prior to June 1, 2011.  We support amending the Statutes to allow local laws and ordinances to regulate the duration and frequency of vacation rentals.

Transportation and Infrastructure:  Palm Beach County seeks to expand the Proportionate Share law that requires developers to pay for impacts to road capacity created by their project.  We also hope to obtain an increase in Florida Department of Transportation grants for specific projects to relieve traffic congestion.

Public Safety:  We support criminal justice reform and legislation aimed at increasing the successful reentry and education of inmates who have served their time, and in reforming the direct file of juveniles as adults.  We further support expansion of uses under the Domestic Violence Trust Fund to assist victims in escaping a violent situation and preserving their employment and housing.  Palm Beach County also supports legislation that would make texting while driving a primary offense.

Environmental and Natural Resources:  The preservation of our natural lands and environmental resources is essential to our tourism industry and brand.  Palm Beach County is seeking greater participation and prioritization from the State of our beach, dune and inlet restoration projects, the restoration of Lake Okeechobee, the Loxahatchee River and the Lake Worth Lagoon, and increased support for our land management programs.

I look forward to hearing from you on issues that matter to you.  As always, please contact me if I can be of assistance at (561) 355-2201, or by email at hvaleche@pbcgov.org.