• No trick-or-treating shall be permitted after 9:00 p.m.
• All persons engaged in trick-or-treating, including adult chaperones, shall wear masks that comply with CDC guidelines. The CDC recommends persons not to wear a costume mask over a cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, persons should use Halloween-themed cloth masks.
• No uninvited persons shall approach a residence where there is an indication that uninvited guests, such as trick-or-treaters, are not welcome, including signage or lack of exterior lighting.
• Groups of individuals shall be limited to a maximum of 10 people, including trick-or-treaters and chaperones.

As part of the Broward County school district’s T.A.L.K. campaign, which stands for Tell Another. Listening is Key., they have launched the T.A.L.K. App, which provides K–12 students with a confidential online form to request to speak to a mental health professional, or report abuse.

The app is available exclusively to BCPS K–12 students as an icon that appears on their personalized eLearning platform.

“The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the traditional classroom setting and created new and unexpected shifts in the lives of our students and families,” said Superintendent Robert W. Runcie. “The T.A.L.K. App serves as a solution to our District’s commitment to ensure students receive the help they need during this challenging time.”

Once a student submits a T.A.L.K. App form, they are connected to a mental health professional before the end of the next school day. 

If a student is in crisis and has an immediate need to speak to a mental health professional, they are advised to contact the following 24/7 resources:

• First Call for Help, 954-537-0211
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line, Text HOME to 741741

The T.A.L.K. App advises all students to call 911 if they have an emergency.

For information on mental health services provided by the district, visit: browardschools.com/mentalhealthservices.

Get ready to help four-legged friends with the help of Pet Supermarket. All of their locations will be participating in this year’s annual “Thanks for Giving” pet food drive benefiting local animal rescues and shelters. The event will take place Nov. 1-30.  This is their 4th year for the event.

The $5 “Feed-a-Pet” promotion, sponsored by Lovibles® and Barker’s Complete®, provides customers with the opportunity to help donate pre-purchased cans of cat and dog food to the local animal shelters and rescues that partner with Pet Supermarket stores. This year, their goal is to donate 125,000 large cans of pet food to the animal rescues and shelters in Pet Supermarket communities.

“We look forward to working with our generous customers to help animals in need this holiday season,” said Director of Marketing for Pet Supermarket Aileen Bilyeu. “During these trying times in particular, our local shelters and the homeless animals need our communities to come together to show their support. We, at Pet Supermarket, want to thank you in advance for giving this November.”  

For more information about Pet Supermarket and the “Thanks for Giving” pet food drive, visit www.petsupermarket.com.

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.