Page 6 - Hobe Sound Reflections - November '23

Page 6, Hobe Sound

LocaL Government

Martin County Tax Collector Martin County Tax Collector Ruth financial excellence by
Pietruszewski Receives State Award For earning a perfect annual
By Ruth Pietruszewski, Excellence audit clear of any findings
Martin County Tax Collector as well as implementing
Ruth Pietruszewski, tax collector in and for the Martin e nha nc e m e nt s i n a
We Love To Offer County political subdivision, has earned the Legacy Award crucial area of financial
Choices! Make The for Continued Excellence in Financial Operations. “The competency. These crucial
Legacy Award, presented by the Florida Tax Collectors
areas of competency
Right Choice For You Association, is one of the highest financial honors a include:
Florida Tax Collector can receive, and I am incredibly • Innovation and
People come from all proud to say that Ruth Pietruszewski has earned this automation
walks of life and have award for the 13th consecutive year,” said Chuck Perdue, • Customer focus
all different types of president of the Florida Tax Collectors Association. • Budgeting
lifestyles. We try to help our A judging panel comprised of government financial “Ruth Pietruszewski has consistently proven that she
constituents have a better quality of life by offering different experts throughout Florida conducts a thorough and operates her office in an exemplary and award-winning
payment options to accommodate their lifestyle, relieving comprehensive review of the financial operations of the Tax manner,” said Perdue.
their stress and lessening the financial burden. Let’s talk about Collector’s Office. To be considered for the Legacy Award,
property tax, since usually that is an individual’s largest bill. a tax collector must, among other things, demonstrate Local Government on page 7
The option that gives you the lowest cost is to pay your
entire bill in the 4 percent discount period in one lump sum;
however, some people are unable to come up with that large
amount of money at one time. We have added PayPal as a
new payment option to online property tax payments.
The best alternative if the individual needs to make
payments is the installment plan. This plan almost gives
you the same cost as paying the entire bill at one time,
except you are paying your taxes in advance. The first
year installments may be a little difficult, unless you are
a new property owner and choose this option for your first
tax bill, but once the property is put on the installment
cycle, this option really gives you almost the same value
as paying one lump sum, while you make four smaller
payments instead of one large lump payment.
For individuals who are self-employed or live on
straight commission, we offer a partial payment plan. On
this plan the taxpayer may make as many payments and
any amount they can afford, as long as the entire amount
is paid in full by April 1. The downside to this plan is that
the individual loses all discounts and each payment made
requires an additional $10 fee.
We also offer several different payment options. The
quickest, easiest, and cheapest is online. E-checks are free.
Visit our website at martintaxcollector.com. Credit cards
are also offered online; however, the credit card processing
company charges a 2.5 percent convenience fee, which we
get no part of. Payment may be made by mail (postmark
determines the discount period), dropped off at our drive-
through window at the Palm City branch, dropped off in
our convenient drop boxes at all of our four locations or
in our after-hours 24/7/365 lock box at our drive-through
window at the Palm City location. We opened a speedy
walk-in payment express office at
the Willoughby location in Stuart.
(Look for the big blue banner.)
A taxpayer may walk into any of
our four convenient locations and
we are ready to serve you. We are PUT YOUR MIND AT EASE
here and waiting to serve and help
with whatever option you choose. A quick screening can detect lung cancer
Make the best choice for you!
at its earliest stage.

Did you know lung cancer can be detected at its earliest and
most treatable stage? The team at Cleveland Clinic Martin Health
uses low-dose CT screenings to detect lung cancer earlier.
That means our experts, from pulmonologists and oncologists to
thoracic surgeons, can provide patients with nonsurgical
and surgical treatments sooner.

Find out if you need a lung cancer screening.

ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/LungScreening

Captain’s was established in 1980 servicing
Palm Beach County and is a privately
owned and managed company.
Captain’s is committed to providing
dependable, reliable and professional
ground transportation to and from all
South Florida Airports and Seaports. PBCVH212
To reserve your vehicle:
561-798-2180 or 800-634-7890 www.captainsairport.com