Page 10 - Palm City Spotlight - February '24

Page 10, Palm City Spotlight

locAl govErnmEnt

Martin County Tax Collector, Tuesday, Feb. 20 Is The Last Day Following these helpful tips will ensure you are ready

Reminds Taxpayers That To Change Party Or Register for the upcoming PPP election:
• Florida is a closed primary state. You must be
Taxes Become Delinquent To Vote For The Republican registered with your political party of choice 29 days

The Same Time Every Year – April 1 Presidential Primary before the election. A voter is not eligible to select a party
on Election Day.
• If you wish to vote in a partisan primary election, you
By Ruth Pietruszewski, Vicki Davis, Martin County must be a registered voter in the party for which the primary
Martin County Tax Collector Supervisor of Elections, is is being held.
Real property taxes reminding citizens that all • All party changes and new registrations must be made
become delinquent April 1 new registrations or party on or before Tuesday, Feb. 20.
of each year. Please help affiliation changes must • Voters are encouraged to check their voter registration
keep your cost and the be completed on or before status online by visiting MartinVotes.gov and clicking on
cost of your government Tuesday, Feb. 20, for them the “Check My Voter Status” tab.
down by paying your to be effective for the March • Citizens may register to vote or update your voter
property taxes on time. 19 Presidential Preference record online at www.RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov or visit
At that time, 3 percent Primary (PPP) election. the Elections Office located at 135 S.E. Martin Luther King,
interest and advertising The PPP is part of the Jr. Blvd., Stuart. Office hours are Monday through Friday,
fees are added to the gross presidential nominating from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
tax. A list of all real estate property with delinquent taxes process for Florida’s two major political parties. The If you need further information or have questions, please
is advertised once a week for three consecutive weeks Democratic Party has declared their nominee, President Joe contact the Elections Office at (772) 288-5637 or visit our
in a local newspaper during the month of May. The Biden. Therefore, this election is only for voters registered website at www.MartinVotes.gov.
advertisement specifies the place, date and time of the tax with the Republican Party to determine which candidate will Vicki Davis,
certificate sale. This advertised information is required represent the party on the General Election ballot in November. Martin County Supervisor of Elections
by Florida law and is not intended to be embarrassing or
intimidating. The notice serves as a reminder to contact
this office immediately for payment if your taxes have not kids cornEr
been paid for the 2022 tax roll. Current law provides that
taxes on these listed properties will be recovered through
the sale of tax certificates.
Beginning on or before June 1, the tax collector Why Can’t My Child Keep Up? Our school neuropsychological testing showed Jenny had
is required by law to hold a tax certificate sale. The a language-based learning disability along with dyslexia and
certificates represent liens on all unpaid real estate By Jim Forgan, Ph.D., dysgraphia. She was a smart girl but her language disorders
properties. The sale allows citizens to buy certificates by Licensed School interfered with her ability to listen, follow directions,
paying the owed tax debt. The sale is held online. Psychologist discriminate sounds, and express herself. Since writing
A tax certificate, when purchased, becomes an A concerned mom and reading are language-based skills she could not put her
enforceable first lien against the real estate. The certificate explained her child’s thoughts into writing and while she could memorize, she
holder is actually paying the taxes for a property owner struggles to me: “I feel could not pronounce unfamiliar words. Jenny had a strong
in exchange for a competitive bid rate of return on his like sometimes Jenny memory and could memorize adequately so this concealed
investment. They make it possible for the owner(s) of real cannot keep up with a her true struggles.
property to allow ad valorem property taxes to become conversation. When we Jenny’s mom wanted to know how to help Jenny so our
delinquent and continue to use their property for two years are talking she often recommendations provided her with the best reading program
(or more) before actually paying the bill (plus interest and stops and asks questions and some tutors. We also provided a list of games they could
costs). During this period, investors pay the delinquent tax to explain more or again. purchase to play at home to help. Testing helped dad learn
bills at negotiated rates of interest lending the delinquent When she hears a new word, she does not seem to hear that when Jenny could not get to the point, he needed to give
property owners money in order to continue using their it correctly. We have to repeat it a few times and break more patience and understanding. The testing also provided
property before paying the bill or surrendering the title to it down into the sounds for her to finally get it and mom with paperwork to share with Jenny’s school staff. They
the property. The payment of property taxes provides the repeat it back correctly. When she is telling a story or developed a plan with goals to help Jenny in school. We
county, school board and municipalities the revenue to giving information, it can take her a long time to think discussed next steps in our one-hour results review meeting.
provide necessary services for Martin County taxpayers. of what she wants to say and if you interrupt her she It’s unusual for smart children to experience long-term
Tax certificates assist in funding the government’s has to start all the way at the beginning again and she academic struggles. You know your child best so if you are
expenses in the interim time taxes are delinquent. The gets frustrated. She says kids at school make fun of her concerned, call to discuss your child. Visit JimForgan.com or
system for collecting delinquent ad valorem property because she can’t read.” call (561) 625-4125.
taxes is defined in great detail in the Florida statutes,
attorney general’s opinions, and Department of Revenue’s
rules and regulations, per F.S. 197.122, F.S. 197.332, F.S.
197.343, F.S. 197.402, F.S. 197.403, F.S. 197.432.
A tax certificate is valid for seven years from the
date of issuance. The holder may apply for a tax deed
when two or more years have elapsed since the date of
delinquency. If the property owner fails to pay the tax
debt, the property tax deed is sold at public auction. In
order to remove the lien, the property owner must pay the
tax collector all delinquent taxes plus accrued interest,
penalties and advertising fees. The tax collector then
notifies the certificate holder of any certificates redeemed
and a refund check is then issued to the certificate holder.
Although it is a secure investment in most cases, there
is an element of risk in purchasing tax certificates. F.S.
197.472(2) states that tax lien certificates are guaranteed
an interest rate return of a flat (nonaccruing) 5 percent or
your bid, on an APR basis, whichever is greater.

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