Palm Beach State College hosts WPTV Town Hall on Amendment 3

As voters prepare to decide the future of property taxes in Florida, Palm Beach State College brought together elected leaders, government officials and community members for a spirited public discussion on proposed Amendment 3. 

The October 6 WPTV "Let's Hear It" town hall, held at the College's Public Safety Conference Center on the Lake Worth campus, gave residents an opportunity to ask questions and hear competing perspectives on the ballot measure ahead of the November 3 election.  

The four panelists taking questions were state Sen. Tina Polsky, state Rep. Toby Overdorf, West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James and Palm Beach County Administrator Joseph Abruzzo. WPTV reporter Matt Sczesny and anchor Hollani Davis moderated the discussion. 

Polsky said the event underscored the College’s longstanding role as a community gathering place for civic engagement, noting she has attended legislative delegation meetings and other community events on campus over the years. 

She said the event also gave residents an opportunity to hear directly from public officials about a complex ballot measure. 

“They don’t always get to meet the county administrator or a mayor or state rep or state senator,” she said.

For town hall attendees, the campus offered both a convenient meeting place and a connection to the community. 

Laura Kokus of West Palm Beach, whose daughter attends PBSC, said the College’s central location made it an ideal venue for a conversation on ballot issues that affects residents across the county. 

She said the presence of prominent local and state leaders on the panel also reflected the College’s role as a trusted community gathering place. 

“Because you’re getting such big name people here, that’s kind of a testament to the importance of this school,” she said. 

Kokus, the public information officer for the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office, said she attended to hear residents’ perspectives firsthand.

“I just wanted to come and see what the general feedback, the true feedback is,” Kokus said.

For Jim Barnes, a Wellington resident who attended the College when it was Palm Beach Junior College, the town hall was also an opportunity to return to campus and see its growth. 

“Campus has changed a lot. It’s grown,” Barnes said. “So that’s great because that probably just means that there’s a lot more to offer.” 

He said holding public discussions on campus strengthens the College’s connection to the community. 

As the November 3 election draws closer, the discussion underscores how PBSC serves the community beyond the classroom. Following a recent election expo that brought state and local candidates to campus, the town hall gave residents another opportunity to learn about public issues and hear different perspectives. As both a venue for public dialogue and a polling location, the College gives residents opportunities not only to discuss important issues but also to make their voices heard at the ballot box.