Early Voting Locations Open October 18th

Early voting locations will open on Monday, October 18 for the November 2nd general election. They will remain open through November 1. The polling offices will be open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The early voting locations for the primary election include:

	Deerfield Beach North Regional Satellite Courthouse, 1600 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Room 170. 954-831-1225
	Lauderhill Mall 1241 N.W. 40th Ave., Bay 80-K. 954-327-3889
	Plantation West Regional Courthouse, 100 N. Pine Island, Room 130. 954-831-2370
	Southwest Regional Library 16835 Sheridan St., Pembroke Pines. (Call 954-357-7050 for additional information)
	Tamarac Branch Library 8701 W. Commercial Blvd. (Call 954-357-7050 for additional information)
	Hollywood Satellite Courthouse 3550 Hollywood Blvd., Room 180. 954-831-0443
	Pembroke Pines Howard Forman Health Park, 8301 Florida Dr., Room 102. 954-964-0442
	Northwest Regional Library 3151 University Dr., Coral Springs. (Call 954-357-7050 for additional information)
	North Regional/BCC Library 1100 Coconut Creek Blvd. (Call 954-357-7050 for additional information)
	Main Library 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale. (Call 954-357-7050 for additional information)
	Pompano Beach Library 1213 E. Atlantic Blvd. (Call 954-357-7050 for additional information)
	Hallandale City Hall 400 S. Federal Hwy. (Call 954-357-7050 for additional information)
	Oakland Park City Hall 3650 N.E. 12 Ave. (Call 954-357-7050 for additional information)

Residents interested in casting absentee ballots should call the Supervisor of Elections office at 954-357-7055 or request an absentee ballot online at www.browardsoe.org. Click on Voting Information and then click on Absentee Voting.

Commission Approves Budget With Lower Tax Rate

Following two public hearings in September, County Commissioners approved a $2.5 billion budget for 2005 with a tax rate of 7.023 mills, down from last year’s rate of 7.188 mills. The new budget marks the seventh year in a row that the County’s tax rate has decreased or remained the same. With the new millage rate, a taxpayer in a homesteaded residential property will not pay any increased county taxes. Increased property values, however, affect taxes. A homeowner whose property has increased in value will be subject to higher taxes because taxes are imposed on the assessed value of the property.
For detailed information on Broward County’s Fiscal Year 2005 Operating Budget and Capital Program, visit: www.broward.org/budget/ and click on Fiscal Year2005 Budget Documents.

Filing Extension Granted For Residents with Tax Disputes

Broward County residents who missed the September 20 deadline to file petitions involving property tax disputes have been granted an additional 30 days to file.
Because many residents were impacted by recent hurricanes, the Broward County Value Adjustment Board voted to accept requests from residents who missed the original filing deadline because of hurricane-related reasons until October 20. To qualify, residents must fill out a “Good Cause Request.”

The Value Adjustment Board is responsible for resolving disagreements between taxpayers and the Property Appraiser’s Office concerning taxable property value, property tax exemptions, or property tax classification. “Good Cause Request” forms are available from the Value Adjustment Board, Room 120, Broward County Governmental Center, and 115 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale. The $15 fee to file a petition is non-refundable. For more information, call the Value Adjustment Board at 954-357-7292 or visit www.broward.org/records.

Broward County Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 through October 15, the Broward County Library will be featuring a host of programs and exhibits for children and adults. At the Main Library in Fort Lauderdale, Raíces Encontradas, an art exhibit by well-known Latino artists will be on display. For a complete list of programs and activities, visit www.broward.org/library or pick up a copy of the September Bookings newsletter at any library location.

In addition to the library programs, an exhibit on Hispanic culture is currently on display in the lobby of the Broward County Governmental Center, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale.

Animal Care Website Now Bilingual

To improve services to Broward’s Spanish-speaking residents, the county’s Animal Care and Regulation Division web site is now available in Spanish. Residents can visit the award-winning web site at www.broward.org/animal and click on “En Español” from any page within the site to access a variety of information in Spanish. The Spanish version of the site is the latest effort by the Broward County Commission to enhance services to Broward’s increasingly diverse population. Future plans for the County’s web site, www.broward.org, include expanding Spanish language translation services to other areas of the site.

Disabilities Expo Slated For Coral Springs

The 25th Annual South Florida Disabilities Expo will be held Saturday, October 9, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, October 10, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Coral Square Mall, 9469 W. Atlantic Blvd., Coral Springs.

The expo will provide information about resources, products and services available to disabled residents. The goal of the event is to raise disability awareness through education and entertainment. The expo will feature exhibits from a variety of agencies.

Arts and Culture A Phone Call Away

It’s quick, it’s easy and it’s always available. Broward County residents and visitors can call the Broward Cultural Division’s 24-hour arts and culture line, 1-800-249-ARTS. The new toll-free number offers callers detailed information on music, theater, dance gallery exhibitions, workshops, attractions, museums, family events, library programs, festivals and same-day, half-price ticket sales. Information on the arts and culture line is updated weekly.

Cultural Division Unveils Public Art Web Tour

Broward County’s 188 pieces of public art can now be viewed on the web at www.broward.org/arts, following a year-long project by the county’s Cultural Division. The web site allows visitors to surf the full spectrum of public art in the county, interacting with each artwork.

Broward County Celebrates Car Care Month in October

Did you know that the average car generates about 600 pounds of air pollution every year?
Throughout October, Broward County’s Department of Planning (DPEP) and Environmental Protection’s Air Quality Division will be partnering with local gas stations, auto repair shops and auto parts stores to encourage car owners to properly maintain their vehicles.
On October 9, DPEP and the Broward County Consumer Affairs Division will partner with AAA Auto Club South for free vehicle maintenance inspections from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Coral Square Mall, 9469 W. Atlantic Blvd. AAA will have ASE-certified mechanics on site from AAA-approved auto repair facilities to perform free maintenance inspections.

Broward Escapes Fury Of Two Hurricanes

While Broward County escaped the full fury of Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Jeanne in September, the storms did leave their footprints on the county: downed electrical wires, power outages and inoperable traffic signals.

It is estimated that Broward County and the municipalities sustained $38 million in costs as a result of Hurricane Frances and $9.2 million in costs associated with Hurricane Jeanne. Most of the expenses include costs for debris removal and emergency protective measures. A portion of the costs associated with the hurricanes is repairs to public buildings and infrastructure.

Hurricane season continues until November 30. For more information, visit www.broward.org/disaster.

Free Tree Giveaway At County Parks

Broward County Parks and Recreation Division and Replant Broward are giving away free trees starting on Saturday, October 2 at a variety of County parks. Replant Broward is a program created to provide replacements for trees lost during the state’s canker eradication program. Available trees include shade trees, flowering trees, and a limited quantity of fruit trees. For more information, call 954-436-7579.

Veterans Day Parade 2004 — “Veterans United...Yesterday, Today & Tommorow”
November 11: Parade begins at Holiday Park in Fort Lauderdale, proceeds along N.E. 3rd Ave., Broward Blvd., Brickell Ave., to Riverfront