Page 18 - Stuart Exposure - March '24

Page 18, Stuart Exposure

loCal GovernMent

Presidential Preference Ruth Pietruszewski, Martin or surrendering the title to the property. The payment of

Primary Election County Tax Collector, property taxes provides the county, school board, and
municipalities the revenue to provide necessary services
Reminds Taxpayers That for Martin County taxpayers. Tax certificates assist in
The Presidential funding the government’s expenses in the interim time
Preference Primary (PPP) Taxes Become Delinquent taxes are delinquent. The system for collecting delinquent
will take place on Tuesday, ad valorem property taxes is defined in great detail in
March 19 and will be for The Same Time Every Year – April 1 the Florida Statutes, Attorney General’s Opinions, and
registered Republican Department of Revenue’s rules and regulations, per F.S.
voters only. For even the Real property taxes 197.122, F.S. 197.332, F.S. 197.343, F.S. 197.402, F.S.
most seasoned voters, become delinquent April 197.403, F.S. 197.432.
the PPP can be a little 1 of each year. Please help A tax certificate is valid for seven years from the
mysterious and seem to keep your cost and the date of issuance. The holder may apply for a tax deed
catch voters by surprise. cost of your government when two or more years have elapsed since the date of
For starters, it only occurs down by paying your delinquency. If the property owner fails to pay the tax
once every four years, and property taxes on time. debt, the property tax deed is sold at public auction. In
is the first step in which Florida voters will begin the At that time, 3 percent order to remove the lien, the property owner must pay the
process of electing the President of the United States. interest and advertising tax collector all delinquent taxes plus accrued interest,
Florida is one of approximately a dozen states that fees are added to the gross penalties and advertising fees. The tax collector then
hold closed primaries. That means only voters who are tax. A list of all real estate notifies the certificate holder of any certificates redeemed
registered members of Florida’s two major political property with delinquent and a refund check is then issued to the certificate holder.
parties may vote for respective party candidates. Since the taxes is advertised once a week for three consecutive Although it is a secure investment in most cases, there
state Democratic Party already selected its candidate for weeks in a local newspaper during the month of May. The is an element of risk in purchasing tax certificates. F.S.
the party’s nomination for president, only the Republican advertisement specifies the place, date and time of the tax 197.472(2) states that tax lien certificates are guaranteed
Party will hold a statewide presidential primary. Our certificate sale. This advertised information is required an interest rate return of a flat (non-accruing) 5 percent
presidential primary is held on the same day as Arizona, by Florida law and is not intended to be embarrassing or or your bid, on an APR basis, whichever is greater.
Illinois, Kansas, and Ohio. intimidating. The notice serves as a reminder to contact
We have received many questions from voters this office immediately for payment, if your taxes have not Warning To Property Owners – Tax Deed
concerning the presidential candidates who have dropped been paid for the 2022 tax roll. Current law provides that Deadline Approaching
out of the race or suspended their campaigns. If a taxes on these listed properties will be recovered through
candidate did not submit a formal withdrawal to the state the sale of tax certificates. Please be advised that any 2020 taxes that remain
of Florida before Dec. 12, 2023, their name must remain Beginning on or before June 1, the tax collector unpaid from our June 1, 2021 tax certificate sale will be
on the ballot. A vote cast for any candidate appearing on is required by law to hold a tax certificate sale. The at risk because they are eligible to go to tax deed on April
the ballot will count as a vote cast for the candidate. certificates represent liens on all unpaid real estate 1, 2023. Any years prior to 2020 are already eligible for
As a voter, you need to determine how you wish to vote properties. The sale allows citizens to buy certificates by tax deed. Once a tax deed is applied for, all taxes and
in this election, if you are eligible. The state of Florida has paying the owed tax debt. The sale is held online. extra fees will be due.
three ways in which a voter may elect to cast their vote: A tax certificate, when purchased, becomes an To prevent the tax deed process on 2020 taxes, a full
Option No. 1 Vote By Mail enforceable first lien against the real estate. The certificate payment must be received by our office no later than March
If you need to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the March holder is actually paying the taxes for a property owner 31, 2023. Postmark does not apply. All payments must be
19 election, you must do so by 5 p.m. on March 9. The request in exchange for a competitive bid rate of return on his in the form of a cashier’s check, money order, or cash (if
may be made by calling the Elections Office at (772) 288- investment. They make it possible for the owner(s) paying in person). Please do not mail cash to our office.
5637 or by visiting us online at MartinVotes.gov. of real property to allow ad valorem property taxes to If a tax certificate holder chooses to take the property
Option No. 2 Vote Early become delinquent and continue to use their property to tax deed, it will be sold at public auction if any taxes
Early voting will occur Saturday, March 9 through for two years (or more) before actually paying the bill remain unpaid. Please remember the deadline for 2020
Saturday, March 16 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily in three (plus interest and costs). During this period, investors taxes is March 31, 2023 and tax certificates issued prior to
central locations: pay the delinquent tax bills at negotiated rates of interest June 1, 2019 are already eligible for tax deed application.
• Martin County Elections Center, 135 S.E. Martin lending the delinquent property owners money in order Any questions, please call our Tax Department at (772)
Luther King Jr. Blvd., Stuart to continue using their property before paying the bill 288-5749.
• Hobe Sound Library, 10595 S.E. Federal Highway,
Hobe Sound
• Elisabeth Lahti Library, 15200 S.W. Thelma Waters
Ave., Indiantown
Option No. 3 Election Day
March 19 is your last opportunity to cast your vote.
Voters who choose to vote on Election Day must cast their
vote in their assigned polling place. Polling precincts will
be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. There
have been a few polling location changes and those
voters have been mailed new Voter Information Cards.
To confirm your assigned polling location, visit us online
at MartinVotes.gov or call the Elections Office at (772)
288-5637.
See you at the polls!
Vicki Davis,
Martin County Supervisor of Elections

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