Page 6 - Palm City Spotlight - January '22

Page 6, Palm City Spotlight

local government

Martin County Tax Collector Our taxpayers are extremely pleased and happy that we Martin County Property

have added and brought these innovative and customer
By Ruth “Ski” Pietruszewski, friendly services to Martin County to serve them better! Appraiser
Martin County Tax Collector Enjoy the holidays!
There’s No Place Volunteers The Heart Of The Community Granny Flats
Like Home Valuing Our Seniors For Their Experience And Expertise! Assessment
T raveling? Birth Many of our Reduction
Certification In Minutes! “snowbirds,” after In the state of Florida
Now that most of years of coming down there is an assessment
the nation is getting here just for the season, reduction available to
vaccinations, those that decide to make Martin anyone who currently has
have felt trapped and can’t County their permanent an existing homestead
wait to travel will start residence. e xe m p t i on a nd t he n
traveling again. With the holidays right around the corner, Martin County is blessed to have the experience, constructs or reconstructs
citizens will be flying home to visit and spend time with wisdom, knowledge, enthusiasm and compassion of an addition for their parent/
friends and family. seniors. We honor those seniors who continue to share grandparent.
We offer at our Palm City branch office a nifty service their knowledge, wisdom, and experience to make our The construction must
called “Birth Certify” to our Transportation and Security community and the world a better place in which to live. be complete, and the
Administration (TSA) clients to get their birth records These seniors unselfishly use their retirement years to serve parent/grandparent must
certified in minutes, in order to process their TSA PreCheck. and to help others. occupy the addition on or
Simply find your birth state on the map. The dates Martin County Tax Collector routinely cooperates with before Jan. 1 of the year
shown represent the specific time frame the state is able to the volunteers of the United Way, which coordinates the they are applying for the
certify birth records. States shown in gray do not currently work of hundreds of volunteers in Martin County. By taking granny flats assessment
offer birth certify service. The dollar amount shown on the over specific tasks, volunteers not only make it possible reduction.
specific state’s picture is the amount that you will be charged for the employees to focus on their everyday duties and The parent/grandparent
to have your birth records certified. We simply call on the responsibilities, but also share with them their wisdom and must be 62 years of age or older on Jan. 1 of the year they
phone and are able to certify your birth records in minutes, experience and often amuse us with their wit. Their energy are applying. They must not be receiving any homestead
so we can process and have your TSA PreCheck issued. The and positive attitude are so transparent and contagious; exemption or residency-based benefit on any other
applicant must know their mother’s maiden name. enthusiasm for the tasks at hand is apparent and evident. property, in any other state, county or taxing authority.
TSA PreCheck saves travelers from waiting in long Every assignment is treated with attention and interest. An application must be submitted before March 1
lines at the airport, especially at heavy travel times, and They are very special people whose donation of time and of the year for which the reduction is to be granted.
speeds passengers through physical screening. This is for effort warrants special consideration and appreciation. Annually, an affidavit is mailed to the existing granny
domestic flights only within the United States. Passengers Our efforts of delivering great service are often supported flats homeowner to be returned to our office affirming
do not need to take off their shoes, belt, or empty their by our dedicated team of volunteers, ready to assist. They the parent/grandparent still occupies the granny flat.
backpack. Airlines no longer offer randomly chosen help us guarantee timely delivery of notices, renewals, and The value of the granny flat shall be excluded from
courtesy PreCheck. bills, and lighten our work load. the assessed value of the property for purposes of ad
Whatever it is that motivates them to help, we at the valorem taxation and may not exceed 20 percent of the
Martin County Tax Collector’s office hope that volunteers total assessed value of the property as improved.
find the contribution of their time and energy an important For more information about this
and enjoyable experience for themselves as well as for tax savings benefit, please call our
the Office of the Tax Collector. We routinely recognize office at (772) 288-5608 and we will
our volunteers for their work, and we try to express how be happy to answer your questions.
grateful we are to have them on our team every time we Thank you,
have a chance, so allow me to say it again on behalf of the Jenny Fields, CFA
staff of the Tax Collector’s Offices, thank you for being a
constant, reliable source of help, support, and assistance. We
value your experience and appreciate and are very grateful
for your support and for sharing your wisdom with us!
Thank you for volunteering!

Holiday Happenings
from page 4
L
L AVARGNA AW PLLC Funds raised at the
luncheon support the
programs of Caring
Children Clothing
. Children, which
provides top quality,
. Wills and Trusts gently-used clothing
. Probate and has an award-
Real Estate Closings
. Business Matters winning literacy
program to benefit
underprivileged
children in Martin
ANTHONY LAVARGNA County, all at no cost.
ANTHONY LAVARGNA
Member of the Florida Bar
Licensed in the United States For m ore
District Court, Southern and information about 4Cs,
Middle Districts of Florida
visit www.4cmartin.org John Lendman, Maria Reich, Santa Claus, Betty Mulligan and Cecilia Lewis, chair of the
or call (772) 221-8777. 4Cs Cookie Competition and Luncheon. Photo by Liz McKinley

CARRIE LAVARGNA
CARRIE LAVARGNA
Accredited Estate Planner (AEP)
Board Certified
Real Estate Attorney
REAL ESTATE
We provide quality, personal legal services to individuals and
businesses in Martin and St. Lucie Counties and
throughout the Treasure Coast.
1805 S. Kanner Highway, Stuart Financial Center, Stuart, FL 34994
.
.
772 286 7521
- REAL ESTATE PRACTICE TIP -

If you rent commercial o ce, retail, or warehouse space, Florida sales tax rate to use
commercial real property decreases to 5.7% on January 1, 2019. The local discretionary Barbara Bucci, Leticia Schaffer and Sue Ann Moseley- Martha Howell and Laura Essenboss. Photo by Jackie

sale surtax still applies. This decrease does not apply to parking or storage of motor Saleeby. Photo by Jackie Holfelder Holfelder
vehicles, docking or storage of boats or tie-down or storage of aircraft.