New Proposed Tax Notices Are In The Mail

[Bob Hudson]

Your Proposed Tax Notice Has Been Mailed

In 2009, the Florida legislature passed a bill changing the format and content of the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes (TRIM Notice). The TRIM Notice was redesigned and is now two-sided and includes millage rates, among other changes. On Friday, August 20th, 2010 our Property Appraiser mailed each property owner in Walton their official Notice. They should begin arriving in you mailbox next week.

A summary of the proposed tax rate increases by taxing authority are as follows:

Board of County Commissioner - 21.66% Increase
Walton County School Board - 8.72% Increase
NW Florida Water District - 0.0% Increase - No Change
South Walton Mosquito District - 15.4% Increase
South Walton Fire District - 22.3% Increase

(It should be noted that these are the maximum tax rates that are allowed. They cannot be increased but can be reduced)

The total proposed tax rates changes raise the total millage rate from 8.9652 to 10.3043 mills.

This represents a proposed tax rate increase of 14.9%.

We have prepared a "Guide To Understanding the New Trim Notice" to help taxpayers understand what each taxing authority has proposed in terms of your Property Taxes for next year. A series of Public Hearings will now be held to allow the taxpayers of Walton County to express their view on the proposed tax rates.

You may download a copy of the Guide by clicking the graphic below.


DOWNLOAD GUIDE

What You Can Do If You Object To Your Valuation or The Proposed Taxes

The Florida Truth In Millage legislation provides an opportunity for taxpayers to voice their opinion on the proposed budget and tax rates. In the chart below is a listing of the initial "Public Hearings" the location, date, and time of the first hearing. We have also included the contact phone number for each taxing authority for you to use to express your opinion if you are unable to personally attend.

The WCTA will be present at each of these public hearings to represent our members as well as all Walton County Taxpayers.

We encourage you to attend !


Taxing Authority Public Hearing
Location-Date-Time-Contact No.


Board of County Commissioners
South Walton Annex Coastal Center
Santa Rosa Beach, Fl
Sept.13 - 5:01 PM - 892-8470

School Board
145 Park Street - DeFuniak Springs, Fl
Sept.7- 5:15 PM - 892-1100

NW Florida Water Management District
800 Hospital Dr - Crestview, Fl
Sept.-Sept. 7 - 5:15 PM - 539-5999

South Walton Fire District
911 N Hwy 393 - Santa Rosa Beach, Fl
Sept. 9 - 5:01 PM - 267-1298

S Walton Mosquito District
774 N Hwy 393 - Santa Rosa Beach, Fl
Sept 3 - 5:01 PM - 267-2112

[30ashopper]

Hmm, my valuation came down, my taxes went up, so I owe exactly what I paid last year. There's something wrong here.

[ShallowsNole]

Mine is probably in my mailbox. I'm afraid to go get it.

[carmen]

Haven't heard much talk of the tax notices that came out recently (unless it is on another thread) My market valuations are dramatically lower. As in 1/3 lower than last year for my property close to the beach (not much for properties a couple miles away) Same for everyone? Is this related to the Florida state mandate that properties be reappraised with the impact of the oil spill taken into account?

[happydays32]

Bob is right. Our elected officials have proposed these monsterous', disgusting loca tax increases. It's simple. Let's all note those Walton County Commissioners' who approve a 20-percent property tax increases'. Sara Commander said "no" and took her re-election by a 2-to-1 margin. Let's note those who vote for it, and defeat them by an even larger margin. We are there employers. "The answer is not to feed government, but to put it on a diet"., Former President Ronald Reagan.



In 2009, the Florida legislature passed a bill changing the format and content of the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes (TRIM Notice). The TRIM Notice was redesigned and is now two-sided and includes millage rates, among other changes. On Friday, August 20th, 2010 our Property Appraiser mailed each property owner in Walton their official Notice. They should begin arriving in you mailbox next week.

A summary of the proposed tax rate increases by taxing authority are as follows:

Board of County Commissioner - 21.66% Increase
Walton County School Board - 8.72% Increase
NW Florida Water District - 0.0% Increase - No Change
South Walton Mosquito District - 15.4% Increase
South Walton Fire District - 22.3% Increase

(It should be noted that these are the maximum tax rates that are allowed. They cannot be increased but can be reduced)

The total proposed tax rates changes raise the total millage rate from 8.9652 to 10.3043 mills.

This represents a proposed tax rate increase of 14.9%.

We have prepared a "Guide To Understanding the New Trim Notice" to help taxpayers understand what each taxing authority has proposed in terms of your Property Taxes for next year. A series of Public Hearings will now be held to allow the taxpayers of Walton County to express their view on the proposed tax rates.

You may download a copy of the Guide by clicking the graphic below.


DOWNLOAD GUIDE

What You Can Do If You Object To Your Valuation or The Proposed Taxes

The Florida Truth In Millage legislation provides an opportunity for taxpayers to voice their opinion on the proposed budget and tax rates. In the chart below is a listing of the initial "Public Hearings" the location, date, and time of the first hearing. We have also included the contact phone number for each taxing authority for you to use to express your opinion if you are unable to personally attend.

The WCTA will be present at each of these public hearings to represent our members as well as all Walton County Taxpayers.

We encourage you to attend !


Taxing Authority Public Hearing
Location-Date-Time-Contact No.


Board of County Commissioners
South Walton Annex Coastal Center
Santa Rosa Beach, Fl
Sept.13 - 5:01 PM - 892-8470

School Board
145 Park Street - DeFuniak Springs, Fl
Sept.7- 5:15 PM - 892-1100

NW Florida Water Management District
800 Hospital Dr - Crestview, Fl
Sept.-Sept. 7 - 5:15 PM - 539-5999

South Walton Fire District
911 N Hwy 393 - Santa Rosa Beach, Fl
Sept. 9 - 5:01 PM - 267-1298

S Walton Mosquito District
774 N Hwy 393 - Santa Rosa Beach, Fl
Sept 3 - 5:01 PM - 267-2112[/QUOTE]

[sunspotbaby]

Haven't heard much talk of the tax notices that came out recently (unless it is on another thread) My market valuations are dramatically lower. As in 1/3 lower than last year for my property close to the beach (not much for properties a couple miles away) Same for everyone? Is this related to the Florida state mandate that properties be reappraised with the impact of the oil spill taken into account?

The notice says that appraisals are done in January, so i don't think the oil spill had/has any effect.

[scooterbug44]

Even with these "increases" I am still paying less taxes because the appraisal went down.

[Buz Livingston]

Even with these "increases" I am still paying less taxes because the appraisal went down.

Good for you.

Ours are up 18.2% but only if the changes are made.

Can't blame this one on Democrats.

[happydays32]

County Commission Repent your sins of burdening the taxpayers with a proposed twenty percent increase in our property taxes. Resist the temtation of rubber stamping the monumental increases in budget requests from the sheriff's department and other constitutional officers during the worst financial period since the Great Depression. Follow the lead of Commissioner Sara Comander and just say no!!!

[wrobert]

County Commission Repent your sins of burdening the taxpayers with a proposed twenty percent increase in our property taxes. Resist the temtation of rubber stamping the monumental increases in budget requests from the sheriff's department and other constitutional officers during the worst financial period since the Great Depression. Follow the lead of Commissioner Sara Comander and just say no!!!

No one asked for a monumental increase of any sort. Property values just fell.

[idlewind]

No one asked for a monumental increase of any sort. Property values just fell.

Why do you always try and ruin a great rant? Shame on you.
Facts are a stubborn thing-Ronald Reagan

[scooterbug44]

Good for you.

Ours are up 18.2% but only if the changes are made.

Can't blame this one on Democrats.

How exactly did that happen? I didn't think appraisals went up anywhere.

[coppertone10]

Buz,
When you're right. you're right. We can't blame this on Democrats, because there aren't any Democrats on the BCC - just four Republicans ACTING like Democrats!

Good for you.

Ours are up 18.2% but only if the changes are made.

Can't blame this one on Democrats.

[wrobert]

How exactly did that happen? I didn't think appraisals went up anywhere.

If you are homesteaded and bought your property before 2004 the taxable value is more than likely still chasing the market value. Even with them falling not everyone is back down to the magic 2004 number.

[Bob Wells]

No one asked for a monumental increase of any sort. Property values just fell.

What does your comment even mean?

[wrobert]

What does your comment even mean?

Captain, communications are all muddled this morning, get Uhura to clean up a channel.

[happydays32]

This past week, the Walton Co. Commission holds a budget workshop. I call it more like a monthly meeting of the Politburo Bureau (obviously, Socialist sympathizers). I exempt Commissioner Sara Comander who voted against a monumental 20-percent increase in our property taxes. This message is for the remaining four commissioners, who have not served in our nation's military and I question their Patriotism. After all, we have a Commission Chairman Brannon who is a devoted bachelor (alternative lifestyle I don't understand) who makes decisions for us who have families with children. Brannon and the County Budget Director Bill Imfeld say they've discovered all sorts of additional revenue sources. The trouble is our proposed 2011 property tax rates remain 20-percent above the current rate. It's madness, lipservice are we all stupid in your eyes. God Save Us, the animals are running the farm in Walton County. Say No to these "Leftys", and let's send them back to Stalin's Soviet Union. I'm taking up a collection for their budget-class airline seats. You can contribute by going to your nearest voting poll when they come up for re-election.

[wrobert]

This past week, the Walton Co. Commission holds a budget workshop. I call it more like a monthly meeting of the Politburo Bureau (obviously, Socialist sympathizers). I exempt Commissioner Sara Comander who voted against a monumental 20-percent increase in our property taxes. This message is for the remaining four commissioners, who have not served in our nation's military and I question their Patriotism. After all, we have a Commission Chairman Brannon who is a devoted bachelor (alternative lifestyle I don't understand) who makes decisions for us who have families with children. Brannon and the County Budget Director Bill Imfeld say they've discovered all sorts of additional revenue sources. The trouble is our proposed 2011 property tax rates remain 20-percent above the current rate. It's madness, lipservice are we all stupid in your eyes. God Save Us, the animals are running the farm in Walton County. Say No to these "Leftys", and let's send them back to Stalin's Soviet Union. I'm taking up a collection for their budget-class airline seats. You can contribute by going to your nearest voting poll when they come up for re-election.

You are the first person that I have met this year that is actually more misinformed than anyone I have come across in the previous forty. Even my kids have a better idea of what is going on with local tax issues than you do, and none of them would ever stoop to the level of personal attacks on our elected officials that you have. But make sure you vote for Sara Comander for me, got to get past this next one so she will be there for 4 more years.