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 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 2007 $129,443,166 Certified Tax Roll 2008 $115,981,028 Certified Tax Roll 2009 $107,263,512 Certified Tax Roll 2010 $ 94,085,175 Certified Tax Roll 2011 $ 90,848,826 Certified Tax Roll 2012 $ 86,878,603 Certified Tax Roll 2013 $ 82,193,250 Decrease from 2012 to 2013 $ 4,685,353 This represents an overall decrease of $47,249,916 or 37% in the Certified Tax Roll since 2007.
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 Certified Tax Roll 2007 $129,443,166 Certified 2007 Tax Roll 2008 $129,443,166 $115,981,028 Certified 2008 Tax Roll 2009 $115,981,028 $107,263,512 Certified 2009 Tax Roll 2010 $107,263,512 $ 94,085,175 Certified Tax Roll 2011 $ 90,848,826 Certified 2010 Tax Roll 2012 $ $94,085,175 86,878,603 Certified 2011 Tax Roll 2013 $ $90,848,826 82,193,250 2012 $86,878,603 2013 $82,193,250 Decrease from 2012 to 2013 $ 4,685,353 This represents an overall decrease of $47,249,916 or 37% in the Certified Tax Roll since 2007. Exemption Values Tax Year 2007 2013 Real Estate $1,599,311,931 $1,863,893,025 Tangible $22,875,850 $115,254,240 Total $1,622,187,781 $1,979,147,265 This represents an overall increase of $356,959,484 or 22% in the Exemptions since 2007. 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, 2012 June 1 June 2, 2013 Available for Sale 14,609 14,901 Face value $ 5,598,124 $5,118,619 Certificates Sold 4,118 4,607 Face value $4,525,247 $4,173,792 County Held Certificates Certificates Struck to the County 2012 10,491 $ 1,072,877 2013 10,294 $ 944,827 The Department of Motor Vehicles Vehicle/MH Registrations 113,200 114,180 DMV Revenue $ 8,028,785 $8,211,885 Tax Collector s Revenue $ 369,469 $ 375,246 Vehicle/MH Titles 22,270 22,878 DMV Revenue $ 2,029,505 $2,086,950 Tax Collector s Revenue $ 153,966 $ 160,256
The Department of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees DMV Transaction Old Cost New Cost Effective 7/1/2009 Title Transaction Original Cert. of Title $31.75 $77.75 145% Transfer of Title $29.75 $75.75 155% Out of State Title Transfer $33.75 $85.75 154% Registration Transaction Initial Registration Fee $100.00 $225.00 125% Automobile Weight < 2,500 lbs $28.10 $46.65 66% Weight 2,500-3,500 lbs $36.10 $57.65 60% Weight > 3,500 lbs $46.10 $71.15 54% the Department of Motor Vehicles Vessel Registrations 7,858 8,048 DMV Revenue $181,805 $184,428 Tax Collector s Revenue $ 22,497 $ 22,934 Vessel Titles 1,849 2,033 Retained Vessel Fees (BCC) $ 36,540 $ 37,205 DMV Revenue $ 8,580 $ 9,023 Tax Collector s Revenue $ 10,207 $ 11,182 The Department of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees Vessels Vessel Title Fees Old Cost New Cost Effective 7/1/2009 Title Transaction Original Cert. of Title $6.25 $10.25 64% Transfer of Title $5.75 $10.25 78% Out of State Title Transfer $9.75 $14.25 46% Registration Transaction Vessels < 12 ft $9.25 $12.25 32% the Department of Motor Vehicles Driver s License Transactions 7,127 18,766 DMV Revenue $ 367,507 $726,503 Tax Collector s Revenue $ 57,781 $131,169 Vessels > 12 ft and < 16 ft $20.00 $23.00 15% Vessels > 16 ft and < 26 ft $32.50 $35.50 9% Vessels > 26 ft and <40 ft $82.00 $85.00 4% Vessels > 40 ft and < 65 ft $131.50 $134.50 2% the Department of Motor Vehicles Combined Total Revenue DMV $10,616,183 $11,218,789 Tax Collector $ 613,919 $ 700,787 $602,606 more to DMV from 11-12 As Agents For The Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission Hunting & Fishing license privileges sold 3,916 4,205 Revenue for the FFWCC $ 114,368 $ 117,948 Tax Collector fee for Collection $ 6,634 $ 6,666
The Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission Schedule of Fees Type of License Old Cost New Cost effective 10/1/2007 Florida Resident Annual Freshwater or Saltwater $13.50 $17.00 26% Annual Hunting $12.50 $17.00 36% Annual Combo $23.50 $32.50 38% Hunting/Freshwater Fishing Annual Combo Fresh/ $25.50 $32.50 27% Saltwater Fishing or Annual Combo Hunting, $35.50 $48.00 35% Fresh/Saltwater Fishing Annual Sportsman s $72.50 $80.50 11% Annual Gold Sportsman s $88.50 $100.00 12% 5 yr Freshwater or Saltwater $61.50 $79.00 28% 5 yr Hunting $56.50 $79.00 40% The Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission Schedule of Fees Type of License Old Cost New Cost effective 10/1/2007 Nonresident 3-day Freshwater N/A $17.00 100% 7-day Freshwater $16.50 $30.00 81% 3-day Saltwater $6.50 $17.00 162% 7-day Saltwater $16.50 $30.00 81% Annual Freshwater $31.50 $47.00 49% Annual Saltwater $31.50 $47.00 49% As Agents For The Florida Department of Revenue Sales Tax Collection Vehicles, Mobile Homes and Vessel Transactions Remitted to State $ 1,241,450 $ 1,322,391 Tax Collector fee for collection $ 1,560 $ 1,560 $ 80,941 more than 11-12 remitted Garage Sale Permits Garage Sale Permits Issued 2,288 2,294 Tax Collector s Revenue $ 11,440 $ 11,470 Birth Certificates 4/1/13-9/30/13 Birth Certificates Issued 324 Remitted to DOH $3,972 Tax Collector s Revenue $ 916 Transactions Processed Branch Transactions % of Total 11-12 12-13 11-12 12-13 Avon Park 26,159 29,225 14.96% 15.66% 11.72% % Change Total Trans. Lake 26,465 27,024 15.14% 14.48% 2.11% Placid Sebring 84,406 92,984 48.27% 49.82% 10.16% Internet 9,291 10,533 5.31% 5.64% 13.37% High Speed Processor 28,527 26,888 16.32% 14.40% -5.75% Total 174,848 186,653 100.00% 100.00% 6.75%
HIGHLANDS COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR S OFFICE Total Excess and Unspent Revenues for 2012-2013: $ 509,837 Water Management & Other Governmental Units: $ 27,907 Board of County Commissioners: $ 481,930 Future Impacts Anticipated reduction in taxable value of property Business Model Expansion One-Stop shop efficiency for Citizens Collaboration of Elected Officials Possible Legislative Changes Central Issuance Amendments DMV Changes Implementation of Driver s License services in Sebring Tax Collector Office Sebring Summer 2013 Full Service Driver s License Office Sebring Office Remodel The Highlands County Tax Collector s Office presents: 5 th Grade Students Tag Art Awards 2013 Design and draw front end vanity license plates Printed and purchased by family and friends Award of Distinction honor awards ceremony First Place tag displayed on Tax Collector s vehicle 12 Participating schools Last year 262 tags were purchased generating over $13,274 to the schools art programs
Tax Collector Choice Award 2013 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