Council Update: CSC support leverages almost $50 million in other public funds

As part of its commitment to provide the largest return on investment as possible to Palm Beach County taxpayers, CSC staff continually look for ways to use match dollars to bring funding from other sources into the community. This year alone, staff told the board at its December meeting, CSC funds leveraged an additional $49.5 million from other federal, state and local sources.

These funds are not necessarily reflected in CSC’s budget. The total amount, which helps support more local services for children and families, represents an additional 33% of what CSC collects through ad valorum taxes.

For example, CSC invests $1 million in Early Head Start, which provides comprehensive early childhood services to families, including child care. CSC funding leverages an additional $4 million in federal dollars. As another example, CSC invests $270,000 in crisis intervention, information and referral services for families through 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast. CSC funding helps the organization access an additional $2 million in state dollars. In Palm Beach County, CSC invests $4 million in summer camp scholarships so youth have a safe, engaging summer experience while their parents work. The county matches this funding with an additional $940,000.

This amount doesn’t include additional match dollars to leverage funding from private sources, such as foundations.

In other business

•  Walk to School Event: Safe Kids Palm Beach County, a CSC-funded program, and students from 68 Palm Beach County School District elementary schools raised awareness about pedestrian safety on Oct. 8, 2025, for National Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day. Palm Beach County held the largest Walk to School Day event in Florida and one of the largest in the United States. More than 2,500 schools nationwide took part in the celebration. This year’s featured school in Palm Beach County was Manatee Elementary School in Greenacres. Click here to see the WPBF-Channel 25 report about the walk and the positive messaging about pedestrian safety.

•  At the Heart Campaign: The “At the Heart of CSC” video campaign is back for its
5th year. This year’s videos highlight CSC’s work related to autism and water safety and CSC’s funding of public art projects. To view all of CSC’s “At the Heart” videos, click here to visit the newly created “At the Heart” playlist on CSC’s YouTube channel.

•  Excellence in Financial Reporting: Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024. The report has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.