Budget

Budget & Financial Planning
Operating Budget, Community Investment Program and Financial Outlook for the Town

Each year, the proposed budget is prepared by the Town's Finance Department for purposes of discussion and evaluation by the Town Council at a series of public workshops, forums and hearings in the Spring and Summer. This process typically follows an update of the Town's strategic plan, which guides the budget initiatives and programs that should be funded.

For a schedule of budget workshops, forums and hearings, visit the Town Council Agenda page. To be notified via email when budget discussions and Town Council meetings are scheduled, and to receive Town news, register for the Town's e-news.

Budget planning for Fiscal Year 2012:

Public hearings for the Fiscal Year 2012 Proposed Budget will be held on Tuesday, September 6 and Tuesday, September 20 at 7pm in Town Council Chambers. Click here to go to the Town Council agenda page.
Town Council held its first budget workshop on May 24, 2011. Click here to view the agenda and presentation.
The second budget workshop was held June 28, 2011 at 7pm at the Jupiter Community Center. Click here to view the agenda and presentation.
A Public Information Session & Webinar on the Proposed 2012 Budget was held Tuesday, August 2 at the Jupiter Community Center. Click here to watch a recording.

General facts about Jupiter's tax rate and budget:

Approximately 13% of a Jupiter resident's tax bill is made up of taxes paid to the Town. The rest go to other agencies such as Palm Beach County, the School District, Fire Rescue, and special taxing districts.
The Town's total budget is made up of six different types of funds: the General Fund, Water Fund, Stormwater Fund, Building Fund, Debt Service Funds, and the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The General Fund operates local government and is funded primarily by property taxes.
The Town also maintains a Community Investment Program (CIP), that is a 5-year capital improvement plan for the Town. It is partially funded by property taxes, and is updated and voted on each year along with the operating budget.
Financial planning for the Town focuses on sustainability for short and long-term economic realities. These include planning for a shift from new development to redevelopment; little to no growth in key markets such as housing and construction; and an investment in local business to create a more diversified tax base.

Budget highlights for Fiscal Year 2011 (click for full budget document):

The fiscal year 2011 budget required no increase in millage rate from fiscal year 2010. The rate is 2.5142, excluding debt (additional millage for voter-approved debt is 0.2904).
Because property values declined, many residents experienced a reduction in the dollar amount of taxes paid to the Town of Jupiter, even though the tax rate remained the same.
The General Fund experienced a $1.3 million decline in revenues from 2010, or about 3%.
Through process improvements, cost and staff reductions, and a restructuring of the organization, staffing levels reduced by 8.5 positions in fiscal year 2011 across all funds. This brings the Town's five-year total reduction in staffing to 58 positions, or 14%.