Page 10 - Hobe Sound Reflections - October '24

Page 10, Hobe Sound

loCal GovernMent

We Are Counting On YOU made to your property would be assessed at full market appraiser by March 1 of the year following the event.
An application needs to be filed with the property
Under normal circumstances, any improvements
– VOTE November 5! value once substantially completed. However, under The property appraiser may request additional supporting
the calamity provision, any changes, additions, or documentation to determine whether the applicant is entitled
As a voter in the state of improvements made to the dwelling as a result of a to a refund. If entitled, the property appraiser shall issue an
Florida, you have the option calamity, may be protected from being assessed at full official written statement to the tax collector within 30 days
to vote by mail, vote early, market value. after the determination, but no later than April 1. The tax
or vote on Election Day How Does A Calamity Affect My Property Taxes? collector shall calculate the damage differential pursuant to
at your assigned precinct. When a calamity occurs on residential improvements Florida Statute 197.319 and process a refund in the amount
To help you decide how that are rendered uninhabitable for at least 30 days, equal to the catastrophic event refund.
to cast your votes in the the property owner may request a Certain restrictions apply for all
upcoming November 5 refund of taxes for the portion of the scenarios. To learn more, please watch
General Election, here are year in which the home was deemed our educational video by scanning this
some important facts to uninhabitable. This does not include QR code or view our full Property
keep in mind: structures that are not essential to the Damage handout. For all questions
• You can request a vote- use and occupancy of the residential or concerns, please call our office to
by-mail ballot through Thursday, October 24. Voted ballots dwelling, such as a detached garage, speak with one of our professionals.
can be dropped off at the Elections Office at any time, swimming pool, or land. Handout Our phone number is (772) 288-5608. Video
however, the deadline to receive voted ballots is Election
Day at 7 p.m. when the polls close.
• Early Voting will take place in six locations
throughout the county from Monday, October 21 through
Saturday, November 2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, which
includes Sunday, October 27. Listed are the six early
voting locations:
• Martin County Elections Office, located in Stuart
• Elisabeth Lahti Library, located in Indiantown
• Hoke Library, located in Jensen Beach
• Peter & Julie Cummings Library, located in Palm City
• Robert Morgade Library, located in Port Salerno
• Hobe Sound Library, located in Hobe Sound
• Secure Ballot Intake Stations (drop boxes) will
be available during early voting at all six early voting
locations for you to drop off your voted mail ballot.
• Remember to bring signed, photo identification when
voting early or when voting at your assigned precinct on
Election Day. Also, know where your precinct is located
if voting on Election Day, it may be different from your
preferred early voting site.
• The sample ballot is available on our website at
www.MartinVotes.gov by clicking the Sample Ballots
icon on the homepage. Sample ballots will be mailed to
registered voters that have not requested a vote by mail
ballot. Additionally, sample ballots are also available at
all public libraries.
Please visit www.MartinVotes.gov or call the Elections
Office at (772) 288-5637 if you have any questions or need
more information.
Thank you for voting in the upcoming November 5
General Election – see you at the polls!
Vicki Davis,
Martin County Supervisor of Elections

Martin County Property

Appraiser’s Office

How Does Property Damage Affect Your
Property Value And Taxes

By Jenny Fields, CFA,
Martin County Property
Appraiser, 3473 S.E.
Willoughby Blvd., Suite No.
101, Stuart, FL 34994
(772) 288-5608
www.pa.martin.fl.us
What Is A Calamity?
A calamity occurs when
your home is physically
damaged or destroyed by an
event beyond your control.
Events such as fire or hurricanes would qualify as
calamities. This applies to both homesteaded and non-
homesteaded property. This does not include damage
caused directly or indirectly by the property owner with
the intent to damage or destroy the improvement.
How Does A Calamity Affect My Property Value?
Any damage or destruction that occurred due to
calamity or misfortune will be reflected as of January
1 of the following tax roll year. The property appraiser
will consider the condition of the property as of January
1 and any repairs that have been made and completed by
January 1, will be considered. Since the valuation of your
property is done in arrears, the recognition of damage still
present as of January 1, cannot be accounted for until the
following tax roll year.