The Records, Taxes & Treasury Division has mailed property tax bills for 2020. Payments may be processed starting November 1, 2020. Tax bills are also available to view, print, and submission of online payment at broward.county-taxes.com starting November 1. For taxpayers whose bills are paid by escrow arrangement, a courtesy tax bill copy will be mailed in mid-November.  

Property taxes must be paid no later than March 31, 2021 to avoid delinquency interest, fees, and penalties, but may be paid as early as November 1, 2020 to take advantage of early-payment discounts. Early-payment discounts for payments made in full are as follows: a 4% discount if paid in November; a 3% discount applies in December; a 2% discount in January; and a 1% discount in February. The discounted amounts that apply to each month between November and February are already reflected on property tax bill coupons. These discounts apply only to full tax payments. Making a partial payment of property taxes forfeits any applicable discount otherwise available for full tax payments.   

2020 tax payments can be made by the following methods:

Online at broward.county-taxes.com: Credit/Debit Card or eCheck:
Use the search function to locate the correct tax account then follow instructions for payment by credit/debit card or eCheck. There is a non-refundable 2.55-percent convenience fee for credit/debit card payments, paid to the credit card company. eCheck payments have no additional fee.

Using Your Bank’s Online Bill Pay Service:
Request a payment to the “Broward County Tax Collector” directly from your bank’s online Bill Pay service, and carefully enter your tax account from your tax bill. There is no additional fee for this service. Only full payment of a single tax bill can be made with each Bill Pay request. Attempts to make partial tax payments by Bill Pay services may be rejected and not received by the Tax Collector. Only one tax bill can be associated with each payment. Attempts to make a single payment for multiple tax bills will be rejected as multiple tax accounts cannot be identified and your payment will be rejected and returned.   

Mail By Check:
Please use the green return-envelope enclosed with the tax bill or mail your payment to Broward County Tax Collector, Processing Center P.O. Box 849375, Hollywood, FL 33084-9375. Include the tax coupon with the check and write the tax account on the check, or there may be delays or rejection of the payment. All check payments must be in U.S. funds issued from a U.S. bank account. The payment envelope’s postmark date is used to determine the applicable early-payment discount. If check payments are rejected or returned by your bank, the payment will be canceled, a return check fee will be charged, and discount deadlines will not be extended for substitute payments. 

In Person:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Broward County offices are closed to the public. Your payment by check or money order can only be dropped off in a secure lock box at the Broward County Tax & License Office, Governmental Center, 115 S. Andrews Ave., outside of Room A-100, Fort Lauderdale, FL, from 8:30AM to 5PM, Monday through Friday, except County holidays. Please check broward.org for possible operational changes and hours due to COVID-19.

A Wells Fargo Bank Branch located in Broward County:
2020 tax bills (no delinquent tax payments) may be paid in full at any Wells Fargo Bank Branch in Broward County until March 31, 2021. Tax payments made at Wells Fargo must be paid in full only (no partial payments), by check or money order in U.S. funds issued by a U.S. bank. Taxpayers must have their original 2020 tax bill to present at the time of the payment. No credit, debit, or cash payments can be accepted by the banks for tax payments.  

Partial Payments:
2020 taxes may be paid in up to five partial payments of a minimum of $100 and will include a $10 processing fee. Partial payments forfeit all early-payment tax discounts that would otherwise apply to full payments. The final partial payment must be for the full remaining balance and paid by March 31, 2021 to avoid delinquency interest and fees on any remaining balance as of April 1, 2021. Partial payments can be made by request at revenue@broward.org. Partial payments cannot be made at Wells Fargo banks.   

For more information, call 954-831-4000 or visit broward.org/RecordsTaxesTreasury.  

The City of Deerfield was originally supposed to have their Fall Festival last weekend but changed the date to Saturday, Oct. 31 due to the rain. It will be held at Villages of Hillsboro Park, 4111 NW 6 St., from 4 to 9 p.m. 

They are encouraging all participants that attend to dress up and decorate their vehicle. They will have a contest for the most creative vehicle, scariest vehicles and most spirited vehicle. Bring the family out to enjoy their live DJ and participate in the truck or treat drive through with the Broward Sheriff’s Office! 

You can also enjoy a pumpkin pick-up at

The City of Deerfield Beach brings you the Haunted Arboretum on Friday, Oct. 30 from 7 to 9 p.m. Journey through the “tree zoo” and see what haunts await you. You can even bring others (groups up to 6 are allowed). You must wear a mask and expect to have your temperature taken. $1 for residents/ $5 for non-residents. The Arboretum is located in Constitution Park, at 2841 W. Hillsboro Blvd. in Deerfield Beach. For more information, call 954-480-4494.

Dan and Maria Aimone ringing the bell last holiday season.

By Rachel Galvin

Need a bit more moola to make your holidays merry this season? The Salvation Army just might do the trick. And — bonus — you also can give back to others in the process. They are seeking bell ringers… you know, those Santa’s helpers who ring the bell next to the red kettle in front of many storefronts each season. All proceeds from what is received in those red kettles goes straight to support Salvation Army’s feeding, shelter and social service programs. Last year, they raised more than $213, 205 for the Greater Ft. Lauderdale community.

Ready to apply? Their hiring event is taking place Oct. 14 & 15 from 10 a.m. to noon at The Salvation Army Community Center, 100 SW 9 Ave. in Ft. Lauderdale. They are looking to hire 125 new people. Bell ringers will work from Nov. 13 to Dec. 24. There will be another job fair on Nov. 4.

The Red Kettle Bell Ringers program is only part of the nonprofit organization’s efforts to help those less fortunate. Last year’s Angel Tree Program secured and distributed more than 8,046 toys to 1,061 families with diminished resources. The Salvation Army is actively assisting thousands of residents-in-need through its Food Pantry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each Thursday, trusted Army experts provide non-perishable items and other pantry goods to more hundreds of underserved families. The organization also provides meals-to-go services for the homeless, its residents and other impoverished individuals.

For more information, contact Robert Beasley at Robert.Beasley@uss.salvationarmy.org or call 954-712-2480.

By Rachel Galvin

On Friday, Oct. 9, Superintendent Runcie traveled around Broward County visiting schools as some students started to refill the classrooms. At this time, only Pre-K to 2nd grade and all ESE students were welcomed back. It won’t be until Tuesday, Oct. 13 when more students will arrive — grades 3-6 and 9. Two days later, on Oct. 15, grades 7,8,10, 11 and 12 will come back.  

This return to schools is nearly 7 months after being forced to close due to COVID-19. Parents have been busy learning how to educate their children at home since the school year began. The option for eLearning is still available. A recent parent survey combined with direct requests to schools reveals that 1,531 pre-K parents opted for on-campus learning, 4,262 kindergarteners, 4,311 1st graders and 4,252 2nd graders. Approximately 5,500 students with disabilities in all other grade levels.  

“Our District staff has made a tremendous effort to prepare our schools for students with all the measures necessary to make reopening our campuses as safe as possible,” said BCPS Superintendent Robert W. Runcie. “We’re happy to offer this face-to-face option for parents, and we’re excited to see our students back in the classroom.”  

Did your child go back to school, or are you a teacher now back in the classroom? Let The Observer know how you feel about being back at school during a pandemic. Email us at observereditor@comcast.net.