Palm Beach County Government

County Home Rule Charter, which became effective in 1985. True home rule gives the board the ability to create, through a local public hearing ordinance procedure, local laws that are not in conflict with or specifically prohibited by state general law or the Florida Constitution.

With a population of nearly 1.5 million, Palm Beach County has come a long way since it became Florida’s 47th county in 1909. At that time, the county was home to about 5,300 residents and included portions of what are now Broward, Martin and Okeechobee counties.

A four-room schoolhouse, located on the corner of Clematis Street and Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach, was the site of the first county government meeting on July 6, 1909. Today, meetings are held in the Robert Weisman Palm Beach County Governmental Center located at 301 N. Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, with other county government business conducted at satellite courthouses in Belle Glade, Delray Beach and Palm Beach Gardens.

The Board of County Commissioners usually meets at 9:30 a.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month in the Jane M. Thompson Memorial Chambers located on the sixth floor of the Robert Weisman Palm Beach County Governmental Center. Workshops are usually held on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

The Board of County Commissioners and seven constitutional officers—the Clerk & Comptroller, Property Appraiser, Public Defender, Sheriff, State Attorney, Supervisor of Elections and Tax Collector—work with other governmental agencies including the Palm Beach County School Board and the 39 municipalities throughout the county.

Each of the constitutional officers operates independently of the Board of County Commissioners and is elected countywide (at large) by the public to serve a four-year term. The authority and scope of duties for each officer is dictated by the Florida Constitution. The seven members of the Board of County Commissioners are elected to staggered four-year terms by registered voters in the district in which the commissioners reside. Unlike constitutional officers, county commissioners are subject to term limits and may not serve more than two consecutive four-year terms.

Charged with providing all manner of government services, the Board of County Commissioners has powers granted by the Florida Constitution to adopt rules and laws to govern the unincorporated areas of the county, and through referendum to seek voter approval for adopting countywide laws. In addition, the board has home rule authority granted through the voter-approved Palm Beach

The county administrator manages an annual budget of more than $6 billion and oversees approximately 6,800 employees in more than 40 departments, divisions and offices. Together, they must work in concert to provide quality services, programs and information to the residents of Palm Beach County.

County Administrator Verdenia C. Baker (561) 355-6726

Clerk & Comptroller Joseph Abruzzo (561) 355-2996

Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks (561) 355-3230

Public Defender Carey Haughwout (561) 355-7500

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw (561) 688-3000

State Attorney Dave Aronberg (561) 355-7100

Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link (561) 656-6200

Tax Collector Anne M. Gannon (561) 355-2264

Chief Judge Glenn Kelley (561) 355-7814

Robert Weisman Palm Beach County Governmental Center

301 N. Olive Ave.

West Palm Beach, FL 33401 (561) 355-2996 | www.pbcgov.com

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office

3228 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33406 (561) 688-30 0 0 | www.pbso.org

Palm Beach County Public Affairs Department

301 N. Olive Ave., Suite 1102

West Palm Beach, FL 33401 (888) 760-9206

Palm Beach County Division of Consumer Affairs

50 S. Military Trail, Suite 201

West Palm Beach, FL 33415 (561) 712-6600

Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners

District 1 Maria G. Marino; (561) 355-2201

District 2 Gregg Weiss, Mayor; (561) 355-2202

District 3 Dave Kerner (561) 355-2203

District 4 Marci Woodward (561) 355-2204

District 5 Maria Sachs, Vice Mayor; (561) 355-2205

District 6 Sara Baxter; (561) 355-2206

District 7 Mack Bernard; (561) 355-2207