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

Other Resources

Florida TaxWatch Statement on Hurricane Ian Recovery

Community Involvement

/ Categories: Research, Broward BOC

Monitoring and Oversight of General Obligation Bonds to Improve Broward County Schools

Q3 (2023-2024)

The Broward Bond Oversight Q3 report details significant advancements and challenges in the implementation of the SMART Program for school improvements. As of Q3 2024, substantial progress has been made across various sectors including technology, safety, athletics, and renovations. Technology upgrades have achieved a new district-wide ratio of one computer for every 2 students, surpassing initial goals. Safety improvements have been thoroughly implemented, with all planned single point-of-entry projects completed. In athletics, all track resurfacing and weight room upgrades are finished.

However, the report also outlines challenges, particularly in renovations. Despite many projects advancing, some are delayed, and 29 primary renovation projects are projected to extend past the October 31, 2025 completion deadline set by the school board. Leadership changes and budget adjustments pose additional complexities.

Florida TaxWatch continues to play a critical role in ensuring transparency and effective use of funds, providing detailed oversight and recommendations to address ongoing and future challenges. The report emphasizes the importance of meeting project timelines and budget expectations to fulfill commitments to taxpayers and enhance school facilities effectively.

 

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