Page 8 - Martin Downs Bulletin - July '21
P. 8

Page 8, Martin Downs

                                              loCal govErnmEnt




      Navigating And Staying Afloat                      their individual microphone and about three feet away the     Talk about “thinking outside of the box.” What box? This was
                                                                                                           all brand-new! One thing COVID-19 did was to improve and
                                                         customer has an intercom, so there is no face-to-face contact.
      Through COVID-19                                   Because of our creativity, innovative ideas, and the use of   to strengthen our critical thinking skills. Not only did we stay
                                                         new technology, we were able to maintain the major amount   afloat, but we continued to pull in enough revenue to fund our
      By Martin County Tax Collector’s Office            of revenue streams after we closed our offices to the public,   essential services and we certainly did our part to help to slow
        Have you ever had a problem or just needed a simple question   exceeding everyone’s expectations.  the spread of the coronavirus.
      answered and not been able to reach a human on a company’s
      electronic phone system and unfortunately their menu did not
      list the specific topic you needed help with? Frustrating!          MARTIN COUNTY
        When we closed to the public, we realized the three staff         PROPERTY APPRAISER                       Using your mobile device’s camera,
      in our phone center would not be able to handle the volume          Jenny Fields, CFA                        scan this QR Code and visit us on:
      of phone calls, so we programmed our phone system to
      automatically start with station one and go round-robin
      to the next clerk, rolling over to all four offices and not
      starting over until the call reached the last clerk at the last   PROPERTY OWNERSHIP 101
      branch office. Everyone had the same number of calls and
      wait times were eliminated.
        Each clerk was given the tool on their workstation to take   Truth In Millage (TRIM Notice)
      E-checks over the phone for free and complete electronic
      transactions. Creating this E-check tool for all our cashiers   In August, a Notice of Proposed Property Taxes (also referred to as the Trim Notice) will be mailed to you. This is not a bill,
      was a tremendous financial instrument. We were closed to   so payment is not needed. This Notice proposes what your property taxes may be when you receive your tax bill in November.
                                                              Please retain this Notice for your records.
      the public and in a virtual environment from March 23 to                                         NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROPERTY TAXES  DO NOT PAY
      May 18, 2020. In that time frame last year, we brought in 327   The following are important sections to review:  MARTIN COUNTY TAXING AUTHORITIES  THIS IS NOT A BILL
                                                                                                        3473 SE WILLOUGHBY BLVD., SUITE 101
                                                                                                            STUART, FL 34994
      E-checks, totaling $1,589,012.98. With the new tool, in that                                Account # 123456  (772) 288-5608  2021 REAL PROPERTY
      time frame this year the E-checks were increased to 3,600   1  Property owner(s) and mailing address.   Owners   SMITH, JACK & JANE  Parcel # 01-02-03-004-000-05678-9   2
                                                                                                                              Situs
                                                                                                                                 123 SW Sample Drive
      totaling $4,753,306.84, which meant a $3,164,293.86 increase   2  Parcel #, situs address and legal    1  JACK & JANE SMITH  Legal Description
                                                                                                      123 SW SAMPLE DR
                                                                                                                              Sample Drive Homesites, S 40' of N 50', LOT 123, BLK 4
                                                                                                      STUART, FL 34997
      in revenue, for the same time frame.                         description of the property.                SAMPLE
        The outcome was happy internal customers and happy
                                                                                                                  TAXING AUTHORITY TAX INFORMATION
      external customers. So many seniors were so relieved that we   3  Prior and current year Market Values     YOUR FINAL TAX RATE AND TAXES  YOUR TAX RATE AND TAXES  YOUR TAX RATE AND TAXES
                                                                                                                                      103546
                                                                   and Assessed Values.
                                                                                                                                   THIS YEAR
                                                                                                                                            THIS YEAR
                                                                                                             PRIOR YEAR
                                                                                                                           CURRENT YEAR
                                                                                                                                           IF PROPOSED BUDGET
      could provide this service.                                                                  TAXING AUTHORITY  TAXABLE VALUE  COLUMN 2 IN PRIOR YEAR TAXES  TAXABLE VALUE  COLUMN 5  COLUMN 6  COLUMN 7  COLUMN 8
                                                                                                                                  IF NO BUDGET
                                                                                                                                           CHANGE IS MADE
                                                                                                                                  CHANGE IS MADE
                                                                                                                       COLUMN 3
                                                                                                             COLUMN 1
                                                                                                                            COLUMN 4
                                                                                                                                 RATE
                                                                                                                                               TAXES
                                                                                                                   RATE
                                                                                                                                          RATE
                                                                                                                                      TAXES
        A list of services that could be done online, by phone and by   4  Your “Save Our Homes” and 10% cap   Martin County  370,000  10.2770  3,501.35  375,880  9.8959  3,460.31  10.277  3,593.57
                                                                                                   General Operations
                                                                                                                            375,880
                                                                                                             370,000
                                                                                                                                       0.00
                                                                                                                                 0.0000
                                                                                                                   0.0000
                                                                                                                         0.00
                                                                                                   District Four MSTU (9009)
                                                                                                                                           0.0666
                                                                                                                                                23.29
      mail were on our website with links provided to take individuals   benefits: The amount of value you do   School Board  395,000  2.7480  998.07  400,880  2.6550  988.12  2.7480  1,022.73
                                                                                                   By: Local Board
                                                                                                   By: State Law
      to the exact page that completed their transaction.          not pay taxes on.              Children Services Council  395,000  3.9000  1,416.47  400,880  3.7680  1,402.34  3.6990  1,376.66
                                                                                                                                           0.3618
                                                                                                                            375,880
                                                                                                                                                126.51
                                                                                                                        123.26
                                                                                                                                 0.3480
                                                                                                                   0.3618
                                                                                                             370,000
                                                                                                                                      121.69
        We created an in-house dashboard so if people had to call   5  Your approved Exemptions.  South Florida Water Mgmt. Dist.  370,000  0.1246  42.45  375,880  0.1192  41.68  0.1192  41.68
                                                                                                   Basin Tax
                                                                                                   District Tax
      back their scenario was logged in and they didn’t have to tell   Column four (pink) is your Taxable    Florida Inland Navigation Dist.  370,000  0.1152  39.25  375,880  0.1103  38.57  0.1103  38.57
                                                                                                             370,000
                                                                                                                            375,880
                                                                                                                         13.53
                                                                                                                                      13.29
                                                                                                                   0.0397
                                                                                                                                                13.29
                                                                                                   Everglades Const.
                                                                                                                                           0.0380
                                                                                                                                 0.0380
                                                                                                                   0.0320
                                                                                                             370,000
                                                                                                                         10.90
                                                                                                                                                11.19
                                                                                                                                           0.0320
                                                                                                                            375,880
                                                                                                                                 0.0306
                                                                                                                                      10.70
      their whole story over again. The chances of getting the same   6  Value: your Assessed Value minus
      clerk were nil, since we had the calls being sent to 70 different   your Exemptions.                                   6      7        8
      workstations. We took extra efforts to make sure everyone was
      safe and protected, by wearing masks, and gloves, using hand   7  Columns five and six (blue) represent    TOTAL AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAXES  6,145.28  6,076.70            6,247.49
                                                                                                                 PROPERTY APPRAISER VALUE INFORMATION
      sanitizer, and strictly practicing social distancing.        your proposed taxes if the Taxing            MARKET    APPLIES TO SCHOOL MILLAGE  APPLIES TO NON-SCHOOL MILLAGE
                                                                                                                                        ASSESSED VALUE
                                                                                                                           ASSESSED VALUE
                                                                                                                VALUE
                                                                   Authorities’ budgets remain the same.
                                                                                                                                           420,000
        We diligently tried to keep the public in tune with what was                              PRIOR YEAR    500,000      420,000       425,880 3
                                                                                                                550,000
                                                                                                                             425,880
                                                                                                  CURRENT YEAR
      going on and how we were handling different type transactions   8  Columns seven and eight (yellow)    ASSESSMENT REDUCTIONS  APPLIES TO  PRIOR VALUE 80,000  CURRENT VALUE  If you feel the market value of the property is
                                                                                                                                   inaccurate or does not reflect fair market value
                                                                                                                               124,120
                                                                                                            ALL TAXES
                                                                                                  SAVE OUR HOMES BENEFIT
                                                                                                                                   as of January 1, 2021, or if you are entitled to an
      and complying with the numerous emergency orders. We placed   represent your proposed taxes if the    NON-HOMESTEAD 10% CAP BENEFIT   NON-SCHOOL TAXES  0 0  4  0 0  exemption or classification that is not reflected,
                                                                                                                                   please contact the Martin County Property
                                                                                                                                   Appraiser’s Office at:
                                                                                                            ALL TAXES
                                                                                                  AGRICULTURAL CLASSIFICATION
                                                                                                            ALL TAXES
      signage on our office windows and continually sent press     Taxing Authorities’ budgets change.   OTHER      APPLIES TO  PRIOR VALUE  0  CURRENT VALUE  0  3473 SE Willoughby Blvd., Suite 101
                                                                                                                                        Stuart, FL 34994
                                                                                                  EXEMPTIONS
                                                                                                                                      Customer Service (772) 288-5608
      releases and emails to EOC, elected officials, and constitutional                           FIRST HOMESTEAD   ALL TAXES  25,000  5  25,000  If the Property Appraiser’s Office is unable
                                                                                                                         25,000
                                                                                                  ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD
                                                                                                            NON-SCHOOL COUNTY TAXES
                                                                                                                                   to resolve the matter as to the market value,
                                                                                                                                25,000
                                                                                                                                   classification, or an exemption, you may file a
      offices. We regularly did posts on Facebook and on our office   In September, the Martin County Tax Authorities   ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD   NON-SCHOOL CITY TAXES  25,000 0  25,000 0  petition for adjustment with the Value Adjustment
                                                                                                                                   Board. Petition forms are available online at:
                                                                                                  LIMITED INCOME SENIOR
                                                                                                            COUNTY TAXES
                                                                                                                                       https://www.pa.martin.fl.us
                                                                                                  TPP EXEMPTIONS
                                                                                                            ALL TAXES
                                                                                                                           0
      website to keep people informed.                        will host open public hearings on their proposed   SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR NON AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS AND EXPLANATIONS OF THE COLUMNS ABOVE. 0 0  Petitions must be filed on or before:
                                                                                                                           0
                                                                                                                                       September XX, 2021
                                                                                                                                        September 9,
                                                                                                  OTHER
                                                                                                            ALL TAXES
        We worked out our three-phase plan to reopen our offices   budgets. The dates,  times  and locations are                             MCPA-474 Rev 05/16
                                                              listed on the back of your Trim Notice.
      safely and step-by-step, following Governor DeSantis’s and   In October, the Martin County Tax Collector prepares your tax bill and on November 1st, it is mailed to you.
      the CDC’s recommendations. We’ve designed counters with
      protective shields to eliminate physical contact between the   Next month, we’ll look at how our Property Tax Estimator is a great tool for homebuyers.
      clerks and the customers for when we would reopen to the
      public to keep both constituents and our staff safe and make    Website: pa.martin.fl.us   •   Email: info@pa.martin.fl.us   •   Phone: 772-288-5608
      them feel comfortable that they are protected. Each clerk has
                                 L
         L   AVARGNA AW PLLC
                          .
                          .  Wills and Trusts              NoN-Toxic cancer immunotherapy
                          .  Probate
                            Real Estate Closings
                          .  Business Matters
                                                           Available NoW
          ANTHONY LAVARGNA
           ANTHONY LAVARGNA
          Member of the Florida Bar                        Safe and Effective!
          Licensed in the United States
          District Court, Southern and
          Middle Districts of Florida
                                                           This is the Original Immunotherapy that
                                                           balances and optimizes your immune system to
                                                           fight almost any type of cancer.
                                                           Hundreds of successes over the years.
           CARRIE LAVARGNA                                 Continuously available since 1977
           CARRIE LAVARGNA
           Accredited Estate Planner (AEP)
           Board Certified                                  in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island
           Real Estate Attorney
                                       REAL ESTATE
          We provide quality, personal  legal services to individuals and
               businesses in Martin and St. Lucie Counties and                          See our website for more info:
                    throughout the Treasure Coast.
           1805 S. Kanner Highway, Stuart Financial Center, Stuart, FL 34994  www.Quantumimmunotherapy.net
                                .
                         .
                   772 286 7521
                     -  REAL ESTATE PRACTICE TIP  -

         If you rent commercial o ce, retail, or warehouse space, Florida sales tax rate to use   or call for more information: Toll-free number (561) 766-0878
         commercial real property decreases to 5.7% on January 1, 2019. The local discretionary

         sale surtax still applies. This decrease does not apply to parking or storage of motor
         vehicles, docking or storage of boats or tie-down or storage of aircraft.      Email: Quantimmuno@gmail.com
   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13