9 Actions Florida Should Take to Help Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Ian

1.     Postpone tax notices and waive penalties or interest for late tax filings in affected areas

2.     Extend the date for residents to take advantage of the tax discounts they would normally receive for paying property taxes and special assessments in November and postpone or defer the deadline for property tax installment payments

3.     Protect individual and business taxpayers from the risks for notices that they will likely not receive because their home or business addresses is not accessible anymore

4.     Issue no new audits in severely impacted areas, extend the statute of limitations and postpone existing audits that haven’t reached the assessment stage because these can’t be responded to while entire communities are still recovering

5.     Create procedures for fairly estimating taxes which can’t be calculated because records have been destroyed by the storm, moving away from the current method which significantly overestimates activity if no records are available

6.     Initiate procedures to offer payment plan assistance for late taxes, rather than resorting to the standard collection methods, like liens, levies, or bank freezes

7.     Retroactively apply the recently passed law that provides property tax refunds for residential property rendered uninhabitable as a result of a catastrophic event

8.     Provide tangible personal property relief and allow n on-residential properties rendered uninhabitable to receive property tax refunds

9.     Get Congress to pass a Disaster Tax Relief Act that includes provisions from past packages, including elements such as an Employee Retention Credit, an enhanced casualty loss deduction, and other relief provisions

Download the Recommendations

Other Resources

Florida Disaster.biz
FEMA
Florida Department of Financial Services
Florida SBDC
Disaster Contractors Network
Florida Disaster Fund

Florida TaxWatch Statement on Hurricane Ian Recovery

Community Involvement

/ Categories: Releases, BOC

Florida TaxWatch Releases Quarterly Report for Broward SMART Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mon., March 13, 2023

CONTACT: Aly Coleman Raschid, aly@on3pr.com, 850.391.5040

 

Florida TaxWatch Releases Quarterly Report for Broward SMART Program

 

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch released its review of the Broward County School District's Safety, Music & Art, Athletics, Renovations and Technology (SMART) program in its report Monitoring and Oversight of General Obligation Bonds to Improve Broward County Schools: SMART Program Quarterly Report Review for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2022.   

 

The report will be presented by Florida TaxWatch’s Senior Vice President of Research Bob Nave at the quarterly Broward County Bond Oversight Committee meeting today, Mon., March 13 at 5:30 p.m. Topics of discussion will include updates on the program’s progress and recommendations from Florida TaxWatch to support ongoing efforts. 

 

Florida TaxWatch Senior Vice President of Research Bob Nave said, “Year nine of the SMART program began with some uncertainty that endured in the second quarter, but progress is still being made. In fact, this report shows significant improvements, including the diminishment of delays and risk levels at the ‘Big 3’ schools. Controlling costs remains a major concern, as the projected financial risk now exceeds $700 million. As the Broward County School District’s leadership team further evolves and staff continue to see this program through to completion, Florida TaxWatch will remain dedicated to promoting better governance and protecting taxpayers throughout the county.”

 

To access the full report and an overview of Florida TaxWatch’s work with the Broward County Bond Oversight Committee, please click here.

 

About Florida TaxWatch
As an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog and taxpayer research institute for more than forty years and the trusted eyes and ears of Florida taxpayers, Florida TaxWatch works to improve the productivity and accountability of Florida government. Its research recommends productivity enhancements and explains the statewide impact of fiscal and economic policies and practices on citizens and businesses. Florida TaxWatch is supported by its membership via voluntary, tax-deductible donations and private grants. Donations provide a solid, lasting foundation that has enabled Florida TaxWatch to bring about a more effective, responsive government that is more accountable to, and productive for, the citizens it serves since 1979. For more information, please visit www.floridataxwatch.org. 

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