Stet NewsWelcome to our monthly roundup. Our top stories from June plus a peek behind the scenes.
🐌 Property values still rising, but not as quickly
June 3, 2025
As experts predicted, the nearly double-digit increases in the Palm Beach County tax rolls slowed this year after a three-year ride.
Why it matters: Local governments will use the valuations to determine the tax rate residents pay to cover the cost of police, fire, libraries, schools, garbage pickup and other municipal services.
Catch up quick: Property values rose 7.7% countywide.
– Joel Engelhardt
💣 DEI dismantled
June 10, 2025
County commissioners got personal this month when they voted to dismantle DEI programs to meet federal requirements.
Why it matters: Faced with losing $329 million in federal grants under orders issued by President Donald Trump to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs, county commissioners suspended programs to give women- and minority-owned businesses preference in county contracts and closed the county’s DEI office.
– Jane Musgrave
💰 $145 million crisis care center
June 17, 2025
The cost of vacant commercial land in Palm Beach County forced the Palm Beach County Health Care District to agree last week to pay 32 percent above appraised value for nearly 10 acres north of Southern Boulevard and west of Florida’s Turnpike.
- The $16.7 million cost does not include $2.5 million in site improvements, including construction of a $1.3 million entry bridge.
Why it’s important: The site at 100 N. Benoist Farms Road is where the district wants to erect a 60,000-square-foot crisis stabilization center, a first stop for people in need of immediate care for mental health or substance abuse.
– Joel Engelhardt
➡️ It’s Abruzzo: County Commission picks politician for top administrative job
June 17, 2025
Three months after Palm Beach County commissioners signaled that Clerk and Comptroller Joe Abruzzo would become the county’s next administrator, they made it official.
By a 4-3 vote, that was followed by a largely ceremonial unanimous one, the commission chose the 44-year-old former Democratic state lawmaker to replace longtime County Administrator Verdenia Baker.
– Jane Musgrave
🥅 Hockey backers show Gardens the money
June 24, 2025
In rejecting a request for a three-month financing delay, the Palm Beach Gardens City Council told the backers of an ice-rink complex in Plant Drive Park, “Show me the money.”
- A week later, they did.
Catch up quick: The nonprofit Palm Beach North Athletic Foundation submitted a $41.5 million pledge from donor Larry Robbins. That’s in addition to the billionaire philanthropist’s previous pledge of $10 million.
Why it’s important: The nonprofit has a 40-year lease to build a $53 million two-rink complex in the park behind Palm Beach Gardens High School. The plan drew opposition from neighbors and support from the hockey community. But to get the public land for a low annual rent, the group must meet the terms of the contract.
— Joel Engelhardt
🔁 Stet behind the scenes: CoGenerating
Carolyn, here. This month, I traveled to Colorado to learn how news and civic leaders are working across generations.
Why it’s important: In the United States, we are living in the most age-diverse momentin history. A quarter of the population is under 20, a quarter over 60 and the rest in between, Marci Alboher of research organization CoGenerate told the American Press Institute Local News Summit in Denver.
- And yet, in many ways, we are more divided along age lines than ever.
Groups are stepping up to connect us.
- Denver-based social club Warm Cookies of the Revolution runs joy-filled events like Tax Day Carnival that explores different perspectives on taxation and post-election dance parties where everyone is welcome.
- The Now Kalamazoo newsroom in Michigan leads monthly Town Hall Field Trips to learn more about how local government works.
- The Bucket List Community Cafe, an online newsroom in Denver run by a retired news producer, employs mostly college students, who are reimagining community journalism.
What Stet News is doing: We coach and publish the work of FAU student journalists, cover change-makers across generations including the New Leaders Council and Love, Hope and Healing and we are building a partnership with a Palm Beach County high school. More on that soon.
The bottom line: Joel Engelhardt, Liz Capozzi and I are committed to a Stet News that reaches across all generations to help inform a growing and thriving Palm Beach County. We are grateful to have you with us.
Thank you to the American Press Institute for inviting me and for covering most of my expenses.
