County Finances at Your Fingertips

If you wish you knew a little more about what government does with your hard-earned tax dollars, now you can! The Clerk & Comptroller’s office puts County finances at your fingertips with the second edition of Checks & Balances: Your Guide to County Finances available at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com. The guide was released in May following Clerk Bock’s “Fiscal Year 2007 Year-End Financial Review,” an annual presentation to the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners that provides important information about the county’s debt, investments and overall financial health.

The easy-to-read Checks & Balances guide is produced annually by the Clerk’s office and highlights current issues impacting County finances. The award-winning guide answers questions about how your property taxes are assessed, how special districts impact your tax bill and how the County incurs and pays debt. On each page you will also find links to additional useful information.

"By educating the public and increasing fiscal awareness, I will continue my commitment to promoting transparency and accountability in County government," said Clerk Bock. As the accountant, treasurer and auditor for the County – the Clerk’s office provides a check and balance on the County’s revenue and spending. The Checks & Balances guide contains condensed and simplified information, mostly from the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), a more detailed report the office produces at the end of each fiscal year containing roughly 200 pages of financial statements and reports. At just about 20 pages, Checks & Balances is much shorter and intended for the general public.
Now Available Online at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com:

New! Checks & Balances: Your Guide to County Finances

New! Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)

New! Annual Investment Guide
New! Annual Debt Guide

In the interest of educating and informing residents about County finances, I’ve also made other publications available online. Visit www.mypalmbeachclerk.com to find not only Checks & Balances, but also the FY2007 CAFR and two new publications—the Annual Investment Guide and the Annual Debt Guide. These are YOUR guides. Please use them to better understand your community and the government that serves you.

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