Saw this on the WMBB Twitter feed tonight and thought it important enough to share in case you missed the mention I tweeted several days ago. Could save you big $$ if you have cars/boats/trailers registered in Florida.
06/10/09 – 04:14 PM Allyson Walker – WMBB
You will soon be paying an increase of 100% or more for some fees at the tax collector’s office.
The increases were enacted by the Florida Legislature to put more money in the state’s general revenue fund.
During the last legislative session Governor Charlie Crist signed a bill that increases fees for car tags. Walton County’s Tax Collector is trying to get the word out to residents that if they wait, they may be paying nearly 200% more.
Walton County residents walk into the tax collector’s office today only to get a message they didn’t expect; you better pay now to save later. Deputy Tax Collector Cory Gibson says the State of Florida will get the extra revenue, not the local governments.
Walton County Tax Collectors wanted its residents to know that they can can go ahead and get this year’s rates locked in for two years.
The breakdown of the fee increases shows about a six to twelve dollar increase depending on the size of your vehicle. For title transfers, you could pay two hundred dollars more for your plate, decal, and registration fee. If you’re new to Florida and have to change to a Florida license, you also could pay two hundred dollars more after September 1st.
Cory Gibson said that the only mrevenue the local governments actually make comes from a two dollar and fifty cent transaction fee that hasn’t changed since 1983. So in esssence, all this money is going straight to the State of Florida. Tax collectors all over the state have gathered to voice their concern.