Palm Beach County Tax Collector's Office adds same-sex benefits for workers
By Josh Hafenbrack
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
July 18, 2006
Palm Beach County Tax Collector Pete Carney announced he is extending health insurance to domestic partners, becoming the last county agency to offer the benefits. Also, sexual orientation has been added to the 269-employee tax office's non-discrimination policy.
Carney, a Republican, made the changes as he campaigns to keep his job in the fall election. Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Carney to the position in April, after longtime Tax Collector John K. Clark retired.
The domestic partner benefits start Oct. 1, offering health, dental and life insurance and long-term disability benefits. Domestic partners will pay the same premiums as married couples, Carney said.
Palm Beach County employees controlled by the County Commission can get domestic partner benefits, but premiums are almost five times higher for domestic partners as for spouses. The Palm Beach County School Board also charges more for domestic partners.
"I have a business mentality," Carney said. "In order for me to attract quality candidates and to retain good employees, it's something we needed to do."
Costs are expected to be minimal. For example, in the 275-employee property appraiser's office, only two employees have enrolled for domestic benefits, according to the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council.
One of Carney's Democratic opponents, state Rep. Anne Gannon, agreed with the decision to offer domestic partner benefits.
"Having just gone through the terminal illness of my husband, I can't think of anything more important than to know that your partner, whether it's someone you're married to or not, is taken care of," she said.
Democrat Randy K. Johnson Sr. of Riviera Beach also will be on the Sept. 5 primary ballot.
Human Rights Council Founder Rand Hoch praised Carney's decision. More than two dozen public employers in Florida, as well as scores of private businesses, now provide benefits to unmarried and same-sex couples who live together, he added.
"It's now mainstream," he said. "Ten years ago, it would've been controversial. But now, everybody's doing it."
Hoch said the domestic partner issue sets up a tough decision for the Human Rights Council: whom to endorse in the tax collector race. Gannon has been a past board member of the organization, but Hoch noted that Carney not only started the domestic partner benefits, he announced the change at the Human Rights Council's election-season meeting.
Josh Hafenbrack can be reached at jhafenbrack@sun-sentinel.com or 561-228-5508.
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
July 18, 2006
Palm Beach County Tax Collector Pete Carney announced he is extending health insurance to domestic partners, becoming the last county agency to offer the benefits. Also, sexual orientation has been added to the 269-employee tax office's non-discrimination policy.
Carney, a Republican, made the changes as he campaigns to keep his job in the fall election. Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Carney to the position in April, after longtime Tax Collector John K. Clark retired.
The domestic partner benefits start Oct. 1, offering health, dental and life insurance and long-term disability benefits. Domestic partners will pay the same premiums as married couples, Carney said.
Palm Beach County employees controlled by the County Commission can get domestic partner benefits, but premiums are almost five times higher for domestic partners as for spouses. The Palm Beach County School Board also charges more for domestic partners.
"I have a business mentality," Carney said. "In order for me to attract quality candidates and to retain good employees, it's something we needed to do."
Costs are expected to be minimal. For example, in the 275-employee property appraiser's office, only two employees have enrolled for domestic benefits, according to the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council.
One of Carney's Democratic opponents, state Rep. Anne Gannon, agreed with the decision to offer domestic partner benefits.
"Having just gone through the terminal illness of my husband, I can't think of anything more important than to know that your partner, whether it's someone you're married to or not, is taken care of," she said.
Democrat Randy K. Johnson Sr. of Riviera Beach also will be on the Sept. 5 primary ballot.
Human Rights Council Founder Rand Hoch praised Carney's decision. More than two dozen public employers in Florida, as well as scores of private businesses, now provide benefits to unmarried and same-sex couples who live together, he added.
"It's now mainstream," he said. "Ten years ago, it would've been controversial. But now, everybody's doing it."
Hoch said the domestic partner issue sets up a tough decision for the Human Rights Council: whom to endorse in the tax collector race. Gannon has been a past board member of the organization, but Hoch noted that Carney not only started the domestic partner benefits, he announced the change at the Human Rights Council's election-season meeting.
Josh Hafenbrack can be reached at jhafenbrack@sun-sentinel.com or 561-228-5508.
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