Palm Beach County Questions 2026

Palm Beach County Voters - 3 County Questions on the ballot for Nov 3, 2026

Click to see the Florida Constitutional Amendments on the ballot:  Florida Constitutional Amendments 

Question - School District

 

REFERENDUM TO CONTINUE AD VALOREM LEVY FOR SCHOOL SAFETY, TEACHERS AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS 
Shall the School District of Palm Beach County have continued authority to levy 1.00 mills of ad valorem millage for operational needs of public schools dedicated to funding school safety; school police; mental health services; arts, music, physical education, career and choice program teachers; and improved teacher pay beginning July 1, 2027 and automatically ending June 30, 2031, with oversight of all funds by an independent committee of citizens and experts? 
_____ YES 
_____ NO 

Synopsis
This is a renewal of an existing property tax that supports public schools in Palm Beach County. Voters first approved the 1.00 mill in 2018 and renewed it in 2022. The measure would continue the current levy for four more years.

By law the money can only be spent on the categories named in the ballot language, which include school safety; school police; mental health services; teachers in arts, music, physical education, career and choice programs; and improved teacher pay. An independent citizens committee reviews all spending.

Yes - For the Referendum Means
If voters accept the referendum, school property taxes will continue to include 1.00 mill for school safety, teachers and operational needs. Local funding allows the District to provide salary supplements that average $8,000 per year for teachers in Palm Beach County. This investment helps attract qualified educators and provides the stability students need in the classroom. Without this support, Palm Beach County would struggle to remain competitive with surrounding regions.

These funds provide more than 900 teaching positions across art, music and physical education. This investment also supports Choice and Career Academies in fields such as medical sciences and pre-med, engineering and technology, aviation and aerospace technology, performing arts, culinary arts and construction trades. The revenue also supports the presence of School Police and security personnel on every District-operated campus. It also helps provide a dedicated school counselor and a behavioral health professional at every school.

No - Against the Referendum Means
If voters reject the referendum, meaning the 1.00 mill is discontinued, the lost revenue will lead to decreases in the number of teachers as well as cut student support services throughout the School District of Palm Beach County.

Teachers would face an immediate pay cut averaging $8,000 per year. More than 900 teaching positions in the arts, physical education and Choice programs would be eliminated. Less funding would be available for student safety and mental health support. 

Proponents — Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association, League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County

Opponents — None known at time of posting

Question - Parks, Sports Recreational Facilities

PARKS, SPORTS, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND BOTANICAL GARDENS TO BE FINANCED BY GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS

Shall the County issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $280,000,000, bearing interest at rates not exceeding the legal limit and maturing not exceeding 20 years from the date(s) of issuance payable from ad valorem taxes levied on all taxable property within the County to modernize aging parks and recreation facilities and botanical gardens, expand and update sports complexes, increase public beach access and trail connectivity and develop new regional parks. 
___For the Bonds
___Against the Bonds

Synopsis
To accelerate its Parks Capital Projects Plan, Palm Beach County proposes to issue up to $280 million in general obligations bonds, which would be repaid over as much as 20 years through ad valorem taxes on all taxable property within the county.

The planned capital improvements, located throughout Palm Beach County, include sports complex modernization, new parks, mutual use sports improvements in collaboration with Palm Beach County school locations, historic and nature center projects, new sports facilities including off-highway vehicle trails and a sports fieldhouse with multi-court flex space, aquatic play structure and expansion of the teaching pool.

Countywide projects would include parks, trail and pathway connectivity; shade structure and natural shade expansion to build upon a parks regreening plan begun in 2023; sports field complex improvements for tournament play; master plan improvements at the Mounts Botanical Garden and well-maintained accesses to beaches and water bodies.

Only voters residing in Palm Beach County will see this referendum on their Nov. 3 ballot and only property owners would pay the additional tax. If the bonds are approved, properties will see a parks debt line on their tax bill starting no earlier than fiscal year 2030. The estimated amount of the line is $5 per $100,000 of taxable property value.

Aside from bond issue proceeds, funding sources for Palm Beach County parks include impact fees, infrastructure sales tax proceeds, grants, philanthropic contributions through the Parks Foundation and earned revenue.

Yes - For the bonds means
If the referendum passes, the county will issue up to $280 million in general obligation bonds to help fund its parks master plan. Property owners would see a parks debt line on their tax bill starting in or after fiscal year 2030. The estimated amount of the line is $5 per $100,000 of taxable property value.

No - Against the bonds means
If the referendum fails, no bonds will be issued and the master plan will not receive the extra $280 million over 20 years.

Proponents — League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County

Opponents — None known at time of posting

Question - Library General Obligation Bond

 

LIBRARY DISTRICT EXPANSION AND MODERNIZATION PROGRAM TO BE FINANCED BY GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS
Shall Palm Beach County issue bonds in the aggregate amount not exceeding $175,000,000 bearing interest at rates not exceeding the legal limit and maturing not exceeding 20 years from the date(s) of issuance, payable from ad valorem taxes levied for such purposes within the Palm Beach County Library District for the purpose of providing funds to pay for the cost of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, expansion, improving and equipping Palm Beach County library facilities.
_____ For Bonds
_____ Against Bonds

Synopsis
Palm Beach County currently has libraries in 18 locations, an annex building and a bookmobile. Its main library on Summit Boulevard opened in 1972 and is now the smallest main library among the six largest systems in Florida. (Palm Beach County is the fourth most populous county in the state.) 

This proposed bond issue would fund a new 150,000-square-foot state-of-the-art main library on Summit Boulevard, three times the size of the existing building, and the renovation of approximately a dozen other existing county libraries. The new main library would be similar to the Canyon Branch Library in western Boynton Beach. It would have a meeting room that can accommodate 600 people, outdoor park-like space, a technology center with a recording studio and AI lab, display space, and conference rooms with video and smart boards.

The Palm Beach County Library System has successfully completed two major expansion programs funded by voter-approved bond issues passed in 1986 (67 percent approval) and 2002 (69 percent approval). Since 2015 all renovation and construction have been funded by property tax revenues from the Palm Beach County Library District, which was established by the Florida Legislature in 1967. To keep pace with Palm Beach County’s increasing population, the County Library System continues to build new branches and modernize existing facilities to serve both longtime and new residents.

Only voters residing in the Library District will see this referendum on their Nov. 3 ballots, and only property owners in the Library District would pay the additional tax. If the bonds are approved, properties in the Library District will see a library debt line on their tax bill starting no earlier than fiscal year 2030. The amount is estimated to be $6 per $100,000 of taxable property value.

The Library District includes unincorporated areas and 24 municipalities that have joined the Library District: Atlantis, Belle Glade, Briny Breezes, Cloud Lake, Glen Ridge, Greenacres, Haverhill, Hypoluxo, Juno Beach, Jupiter, Jupiter Inlet Colony, Lake Clarke Shores, Loxahatchee Groves, Mangonia Park, Ocean Ridge, Pahokee, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach Shores, Royal Palm Beach, South Bay, South Palm Beach, Tequesta, Wellington and Westlake.

In addition to the past bond issues, the Palm Beach County Library System has used other sources of funding. The primary source is the taxing district. The system is eligible to collect impact fees from development. It also is eligible to apply for State of Florida Public Library Construction grants.

Town Hall sessions are scheduled in September and October to explain the County’s capital project plans for both libraries and parks. To find one near you, visit https://pbclibrary.bibliocommons.com/v2/events.

Yes - For the Referendum Means
If the referendum passes, Palm Beach County will issue up to $175 million in bonds for library expansion to be repaid over 20 years by taxpayers in the County’s Library District. The expansion plans include a new main library building on Summit Boulevard and approximately 12 renovations of existing libraries.

No - Against the Referendum Means

If the referendum fails, Palm Beach County will not issue the bonds to help pay for the Library System’s expansion plans.

Proponents — League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County

Opponents — None known at time of posting