County Clerk Scales Back Hours At Royal Palm Service Center

Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller Sharon Bock changed the hours of the clerk’s office at the Midwestern Communities Service Center effective Friday, Aug. 5.

The office, located at 200 Civic Center Way, Suite 500, in Royal Palm Beach, began closing to the public on Fridays consistent with the operations of both the North County and South County courthouses, which were scaled back last year due to clerk budget reductions from the State of Florida.

Clerk services affected by the Friday closures are available at the following locations:

• Traffic ticket payments: Main Courthouse and online at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com.

• Passport applications: West County Courthouse.

• Marriage license applications: Main Courthouse and the West County Courthouse.

The Main Courthouse is at 205 N. Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach, and the West County Courthouse is at 2950 State Road 15, Room S-100, in Belle Glade.

“With no fiscal relief in sight, this closure is taking place in anticipation of further reductions. While we have consistently reduced our costs over the past five years, we continue to strive to deliver outstanding services to the Palm Beach County community,” Bock said. “I will continue to work with the State Legislature to develop a long-term and sustainable solution to address the clerk’s chronically broken state funding model.”

The clerk’s budget took a $2.6 million cut during this fiscal year. This reduction forced layoffs and branch closures affecting the office’s ability to satisfy statutory mandates.

Other offices located at the Midwestern Communities Service Center in Royal Palm Beach are not affected by the change at Bock’s office.

The Florida Constitution established the independent Office of the Clerk & Comptroller as a public trustee, responsible for safeguarding public records and public funds. Bock is directly elected by and accountable to Palm Beach County residents. In addition to the roles of clerk of the circuit court, county recorder and clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, Bock is the chief financial officer, treasurer and auditor for Palm Beach County.