Page 10 - Hobe Sound Reflections - October '23

Page 10, Hobe Sound

loCal GoverNMeNt

Martin County Property refund of property taxes in The property appraiser will consider the condition of the
the year following the event.
Appraiser Calamity occurs when your property as of Jan. 1 after the event and any remaining damage
will be taken into account for the next year’s value.
home is physically damaged or Any changes, additions or improvements, commenced within
By Jenny Fields, CFA, Martin County Property Appraiser, destroyed by an event beyond three years that replace all or a portion of the property that was
3473 S.E. Willoughby Blvd., your control. Events such damaged or destroyed may not increase your assessed value.
Suite No. 101, as fire or hurricanes would How Does A Calamity Affect My Property Taxes?
Stuart, FL 34994 qualify as calamity. However, When a calamity occurs on residential improvements that
(772) 288-5608 www.pa.martin.fl.us it is the responsibility of are rendered uninhabitable for at least 30 days, the property
the homeowner to notify owner may request a refund of taxes for the portion of the year in
Calamity the Office of the Property which the home was deemed uninhabitable. This does not include
Appraiser of the damage or structures that are not essential to the use and occupancy of the
Recent legislation was passed stating that any calamity or destruction as soon as possible. residential dwelling, such as detached garage, pool, or land.
misfortune that occurs after Jan. 1, that causes your home to be An application needs to be filed with the property appraiser by
deemed uninhabitable allows you to be eligible for a prorated Property Damage March 1 of the year following the event. The property appraiser
may request additional supporting documentation to determine
FiNaNCial Information whether the applicant is entitled to a refund. If entitled, the
property appraiser must issue an official written statement to
What Is A Calamity?
A calamity occurs when your home is physically damaged
or destroyed by an event beyond your control. This applies to the tax collector within 30 days after the determination, but no
later than April 1. The tax collector shall calculate the damage
differential pursuant to Florida Statute 197.319 and process a
FoCus ® both homesteaded and nonhomesteaded property. This does not refund in an amount equal to the catastrophic event refund.
include damage caused directly or indirectly by the property
Important
owner with the intent to damage or destroy the improvement. Certain restrictions apply for all
How Does A Calamity Affect My Property Value? scenarios, so please visit the Property
Should You Be “Selfish” In property owner to notify the Office of the Property Appraiser as Damage Information page, under the
When a calamity occurs, it is the responsibility of the
“Tool & Resources” section of our website
Retirement? soon as possible. Any change in value as a result of the calamity at www.pa.martin.fl.us to learn more.
will be reflected in the following tax roll year.
By Sally Sima Stahl
As a parent, you
naturally want to help your
children – but is it always EVERY SUNDAY
a good idea to provide 9AM-2PM
them with support when
they’re adults? You may
want to proceed carefully FLAGLER PARK
in this area – to protect
everyone’s financial
interests. •FRESH PRODUCE
This topic is on the
minds of many people: 63 percent of retirees and 69 percent •LIVE MUSIC
of preretirees have either limited their financial support to •MOBILE CRAFT BAR
adult children or other family members, or would limit this
support, to preserve their own financial stability and avoid •KIDS MARKET
becoming a burden, according to a recent survey by Age Operated by Stuart Main Street (First & third Sunday of every month)
Wave and Edward Jones.
So, as this finding indicates, it isn’t that preretirees and
retirees are being “selfish” when they’re cautious about Fresh Local Produce & Honey
providing financial assistance – their goal is to maintain Organic Eggs, Beef, Seafood & Poultry
their financial independence, so they never have to depend
on their family members for help. And anyone can agree Household Plants & Florals
that this is a worthy objective. Homemade Cheeses
In any case, the amount of support you can reasonably Spices & Sauces
offer will depend on several factors, including your monthly Freshly Baked Breads & Tasty Treats
income, your expenses, your savings and your projected Pottery, Art & Home Décor
future expenditures. By taking these figures into account,
you should be able to develop a good estimate of what you Handcrafted Jewelry & Accessories
can – and can’t – do for your adult children. Pet Items BE A PART OF
But if you do decide that you can afford to provide some SOMETHING
financial resources, at least on occasion, you may want to A market for growers, crafters, artists & other creators FRESH!
be strategic about it. In other words, how can you do the
most good?
772-285-0502 | stuartmainstreet.org/market
Financial Focus on page 11 Stuart Main Street is a 501c3 non-profit focused on promoting the Historic Downtown.
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