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Taxing questions easy to answer
By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK © St. Petersburg Times, published April 17, 2001 BROOKSVILLE -- Grace Morales didn't want to hear excuses or generalities. She came to the Hernando County Government Center on Monday to learn why her property taxes keep going up even though you haven't been able to see water from her "waterfront" Spring Hill property in more than two years. As soon as Nick Nikkinen, chief deputy property appraiser, finished describing three ways his office assesses property, Morales' hand shot into the air. "What constitutes waterfront property?" she asked, cutting to the point that she and about two dozen of her neighbors came to hear. A month earlier, they brought the same concerns to county commissioners, who deferred to the Property Appraiser's Office. Nikkinen explained that the labels attached to property come from descriptions set years ago by developers when they platted the land. They have nothing to do with the values used to charge property taxes, he said. "Ultimately, what we have to determine is whether we exceed market value," Nikkinen told the group. "We can't get caught up on what we're calling things." Slowly, the message began to sink in. "So, my taxes are based on market value?" said one woman, who would not give her name. Nikkinen and his boss, Property Appraiser Alvin Mazourek, smiled and nodded. The people seemed to get it. Mazourek then guided the discussion into the next logical step. Property taxes are rising in Hernando County for just about everyone, he said, because the values go up as demand increases. People willingly pay more for property labeled waterfront, even without the water, because they get a natural buffer that cannot be developed behind their homes, Nikkinen said. It's like the discussions that often happen when a community puts in a newly paved road, he said. Some neighbors fear their taxes will go up because of the new road, Nikkinen said. The reality, however, is that the taxes rise only when people start to pay more for the property along the new road, he said. The group seemed generally satisfied. Just take out the words "waterfront property" and the problem about assessments probably would vanish, said Paul Morales, Grace Morales' husband. But another set of questions remained. Specifically, the residents wanted to know where the water has gone. And, if there's not enough water for sprinkling lawns, why can developers continue to build new homes and businesses. County Administrator Paul McIntosh, who organized the meeting, gave a shorthand answer. Water for sprinkling lawns comes from surface sources that are depleted from the drought, he said. The lakes of Spring Hill have suffered the effects of the drought, McIntosh said. Water for development, meanwhile, comes from the underground aquifer that has plenty of water for long-term use under normal conditions, he said. There's not any proof that the county lacks the water to deny development, he added. McIntosh urged the group to attend a workshop with representatives from the Southwest Florida Water Management District at 1:30 p.m. today for more answers. Grace Morales said she had doubts about all the explanations, and she pledged to push for what she considers fair taxes. "You can't win," she said. "But we're going to continue to fight this."
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From today's Hernando Times |
