HIGHLANDS COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR ERIC T. ZWAYER As your Tax Collector, this office will make a daily commitment to excellence in all that we do. Our pledge to every citizen is to provide courteous and professional service, while using innovation to improve our efficiency and reduce our costs. This is your office and you deserve nothing less. Eric T. Zwayer Tax Collector Serving Highlands County As an Independent Constitutional Officer Our office is funded and financed by fees and Commissions we earn from the different agencies we represent Board of County Commissioners School Board Department of Revenue Department of Motor Vehicles Department of Health Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Water Management Districts & other Special Benefit Districts City of Sebring, Avon Park & Lake Placid Our budget is approved by the Department of Revenue.
We Bill And Collect Local and Government Taxes Real Estate Ad-Valorem Tangible Personal Property/Non-Ad Valorem As of October 1st Certified Tax Roll Taxes Levied Percent of Change Certified Tax Roll 2007 $129,443,166 2007 $129,443,166 Certified Tax Roll 2008 $115,981,028 Certified 2008 Tax Roll $115,981,028 2009 $107,263,512 (10.40%) Certified 2009 Tax Roll $107,263,512 2010 $ 94,085,175 (7.52%) Certified 2010 Tax Roll $94,085,175 2011 $ 90,848,826 (12.29%) Certified Tax Roll 2012 $ 86,878,603 Certified 2011 Tax Roll $90,848,826 2013 $ 82,193,250 (3.44%) 2012 $86,878,603 (4.37%) 2013 $82,193,250 (5.39%) 2014 $88,853,520 8.10% Exemption Values Tax Year 2007 2014 Real Estate $1,599,311,931 $1,853,668,317 Tangible $22,875,850 $113,919,877 Total $1,622,187,781 $1,967,590,208 This represents an overall increase of $345,400,420 or 21% in the Exemptions since 2007. Increase from 2013 to 2014 $ 6,660,270 This represents an overall decrease of $40,589,646 or 31% in the Certified Tax Roll since 2007. Exemption 2007 Values Assessed Exemptions % of Assessed Real Estate $7,878,869,677 $1,599,311,931 20% Taxes Collected in 13-14 FY by Taxing Authority Tangible $611,327,180 $22,875,850 4% Total $8,490,196,857 $1,622,187,781 19% 2014 Assessed Exemptions % of Assessed Real Estate $5,787,822,835 $1,853,668,317 32% Tangible $651,329,070 $113,919,877 17% Total $6,439,151,905 $1,967,590,208 31% Non Ad Valorem Taxes 69 Special Taxing Districts Fire Services Garbage Sidewalks Lighting TAX CERTIFICATE SALE Tax Certificate sale held online for 8 Years Advertised for 3 weeks prior to auction June 1 June 2, 2013 June 1 June 2, 2014 Available for Sale 14,901 14,056 Face value $ 5,118,619 $3,580,570 Certificates Sold 4,607 4,066 Face value $4,173,792 $2,785,076 % of Face value 82% 78%
County Held Certificates Certificates Struck to the County 2013 10,294 $ 944,827 2014 9,990 $ 795,495 As Agents for The Department of Motor Vehicles Transactions Processed 147,139 149,906 DMV Revenue $ 10,492,286 $ 11,055,846 Revenue $ 569,618 $ 608,871 The Department of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees DMV Transaction Old Cost New Cost Effective 9/1/2014 Title Transaction Percent of Change Original Cert. of Title $77.75 $77.75 0% Transfer of Title $75.75 $75.75 0% Out of State Title Transfer $85.75 $85.75 0% Registration Transaction Initial Registration Fee $225.000 $225.00 0% Automobile Weight < 2,500 lbs $46.65 $28.10 (40%) Weight 2,500-3,500 lbs $57.65 $36.10 (37%) Weight > 3,500 lbs $71.15 $46.10 (35%) The Department of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees Vessels Vessel Title Fees Old Cost New Cost Effective 9/1/2014 Title Transaction Percent of Change Original Cert. of Title $10.25 $10.25 0% Transfer of Title $10.25 $10.25 0% Out of State Title Transfer $14.25 $14.25 0% Registration Transaction Vessels < 12 ft $12.25 $10.25 (16%) Vessels > 12 ft and < 16 ft $23.00 $21.00 (9%) Vessels > 16 ft and < 26 ft $35.50 $33.50 (6%) Vessels > 26 ft and <40 ft $85.00 $83.00 (2%) Vessels > 40 ft and < 65 ft $134.50 $132.50 (1%) As Agents for the Department of Motor Vehicles Driver s License Transactions 18,766 27,443 DMV Revenue $ 726,503 $ 905,479 Tax Collector s Revenue $ 131,169 $ 175,013 As Agents for the Department of Motor Vehicles Combined Total Revenue DMV $11,218,789 $11,961,325 Tax Collector $ 700,787 $ 783,884 $742,536 more to DMV from 12-13
The Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission Hunting & Fishing license privileges sold 4,205 4,567 Revenue for the FFWCC $ 117,948 $ 121,859 Tax Collector fee for Collection $ 6,666 $ 6,752 The Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission Schedule of Fees Type of License Cost Florida Resident Annual Freshwater or Saltwater $17.00 Annual Hunting $17.00 Annual Combo Hunting/Freshwater Fishing $32.50 Annual Combo Fresh/ Saltwater Fishing or $32.50 Annual Combo Hunting, Fresh/Saltwater Fishing $48.00 Annual Sportsman s $80.50 Annual Gold Sportsman s $100.00 5 yr Freshwater or Saltwater $79.00 5 yr Hunting $79.00 Nonresident 3-day Freshwater $17.00 7-day Freshwater $30.00 3-day Saltwater $17.00 7-day Saltwater $30.00 Annual Freshwater $47.00 Annual Saltwater $47.00 The Florida Department of Revenue Sales Tax Collection Vehicles, Mobile Homes and Vessel Transactions Remitted to State $ 1,322,391 $ 1,359,891 Tax Collector fee for collection $ 1,560 $ 1,560 $ 37,500 more than 12-13 remitted The Florida Department of Health 4/1/13-9/30/13 10/1/13-9/30/14 Birth Certificates Issued 324 618 Remitted to DOH $3,972 $7,484 Revenue $ 916 $2,838 The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Concealed Weapons Licensing 9/18/14-9/30/14 CWL Issued 32 Remitted to DACS $3,280 Revenue $ 704 Tourist Development Tax State of FL Collections 1/1/13-9/30/13 1/1/14-9/30/14 Remitted to BCC $261,013 $271,405 Revenue $ 8,394 Collected $18,786 more than the State. Remitted to BCC $10,392 more than the State in the same time period.
Garage Sale Permits Garage Sale Permits Issued 2,294 2,207 Revenue $ 11,470 $ 11,035 Transactions Processed Branch Transactions % of Total 12-13 13-14 12-13 13-14 Avon Park 29,225 29,403 15.66% 14.97%.61% Lake Placid 27,024 27,664 14.48% 14.08% 2.37% % Change Total Trans. Sebring 93,042 93,571 49.85% 47.65%.57% Internet 10,474 10,528 5.61% 5.36%.52% High Speed Processor 26,888 24,659 14.40% 12.56% -8.29% Escrow & 0 10,563 0.00% 5.38% TDT Online Total 186,653 196,388 100.00% 100.00% 5.22% HIGHLANDS COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR S OFFICE Total Excess and Unspent Revenues for 2013-2014: $ 239,196 Water Management & Other Governmental Units: $ 13,224 Board of County Commissioners: $ 225,972 Future Impacts Anticipated leveling out in taxable value of property Managing One-Stop Business Model Expansion Birth Certificates, Tourist Development Tax, Concealed Weapons, etc Collaboration of Elected Officials Information Technology Possible Legislative Changes Email Exemption- Electronic Tax Bill DMV Changes State is looking at Central Issuance Model 5 th Grade Students Design and draw front end vanity license plates Printed and purchased by family and friends Award of Distinction honor awards ceremony Three Choice Awards put on the front of Tax Collector and major sponsor s vehicles 13 Participating schools In three years, 914 tags were purchased generating nearly $41,500 to the schools art programs.
2015 KTA Program Tax Collector Choice Award 2014 5 th, 7 th, and 9 th grade participation 3 AOD winners from each 5 th grade class 2 AOD winners from each 7 th & 9 th grade class Choice Awards Selection Tax Collector Choice 5 th Grade CFC Foundation Choice 7 th Grade Alan Jay Choice 9 th Grade OFFICE LOCATIONS HIGHLANDS COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR S SEBRING OFFICE 540 S. COMMERCE AVENUE 8:00 A.M. 5:00 P.M., MON FRI AVON PARK BRANCH OFFICE 116 E. MAIN STREET 8:00 A.M. 5:00 P.M., MON FRI LAKE PLACID BRANCH OFFICE 11 N. PINE AVENUE 8:00 A.M. 5:00 P.M., MON FRI The End