The Port of Palm Beach District, a political subdivision of the State of Florida, was created and established under provisions of Chapter 7081, Laws of Florida, Acts of 1915, as amended and supplemented.
The Port of Palm Beach is located within Palm Beach County, Florida (the “County”) and covers a land area that represents approximately 50% of County’s land area. Incorporated municipalities lying wholly or partially within the District include: Belle Glade, Golfview, Haverhill, Lake Park, Loxahatchee Groves, Mangonia Park, North Palm Beach, Pahokee, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach Shores, Riviera Beach, Royal Palm Beach, South Bay, Wellington and West Palm Beach.
As an independent special district of the State of Florida, the Port of Palm Beach serves as an important component of Florida’s network of 14 deepwater ports as well as a vital economic engine for the region. The Port of Palm Beach, with its containerized, general, liquid and dry bulk cargoes and cruise operations, primarily services the areas of Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Highlands, Glades, Hendry and Broward Counties.
The Port of Palm Beach is governed by a Board of Commissioners composed of five members elected at large by the voters within the District for overlapping four-year terms of office.
Although the Port has the statutory authority to levy up to $200,000 annually of ad valorem taxes on all taxable property within the District to pay operating and maintenance expenses and the cost of capital improvements, the Port has not levied any taxes since fiscal year 1974-1975.