RCPB Hosts Chairman Carl Cascio at June lunch

Our June meeting featured GOP Chairman Carl Cascio.

Starting with his thoughts on key local issues, Carl pointed to the county administration and the actions at the state level to slow the excessive growth in county and municipal budgets. Led by CFO Blaise Ingoglia who directs FAFO (Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight), analysis has been done comparing the budget growth to population and inflation, and they have faulted Palm Beach County for greatly exceeding that measure. Speaking for the county, Administrator Joe Abruzzo wants to see actual evidence of excessive spending and claims the CFO knows nothing about our budget. Carl thinks that Joe should sharpen his pencil.

Chairman Carl Cascio

Comparing a budget to inflation and population growth (also knows as TABOR – taxpayer bill of rights), is a time tested metric which avoids quibbling over pencils and office furniture. In fact, the county budget is mostly driven by large increases in PBSO (which has doubled over the last 8 years and is now about 60% of the $1.5B ad valorem budget), and year after year 6% “cost of living” salary increases for county employees.

To slow or reverse this local budget growth (affects everyting but the school system), the state has put on the ballot for November an increase in the homestead exemption to $150,000 next year and $250,000 by 2028. The county will try to defeat this (needs 60%) by arguing that the cut is massive and will cause layoffs and a cutback in critical services like PBSO and Fire/Rescue. Clearly a ready made campaign issue on a local level.

Todd Fabricant

Another local issue that Carl touched on is the proliferation of data centers such as “Project Tango” slated to be built on Southern Blvd. near 20 mile bend. With their large demand for electrical power and water for cooling, opposition to these data centers (which is also opposition to the growth of AI) is increasing. With the County Commission about to approve this project, it has become a valid local campaign issue as well.

On the political front, Carl reminded us of the narrowing registration gap (only 8,797 more DEMs than REPS as of today, making the county D+1). The local party has been pushing the Supervisor of Elections to keep the voter rolls clean and she has done significant purging over the last few years. With the redistricting this year, Republicans now have a shot at winning the new Congressional Districts 22 (from Wellington to the west coast) and 25 (coastal Broward and Boca/Delray south of Linton Blvd.). The focus of the REC will be on turning out Republican voters first, then going after the NPAs.

Also at the meeting we heard from Ralph and Dorcas Hernandez, accepting one of our scholarships for their son William. Annalise Hernandez, who we heard from last month also received a scholarship for 2026.

Candidates who spoke included former State Representative Rick Roth who is running for Senate District 26 and unopposed in the primary, and Jonathan Rubin running against Jon Maples in the primary for for House District 87. We also heard from Todd Fabricant, recruitment director for the REC. Todd explained the responsibilities of an REC member and the need for more people to step up and join.