When I ran for office in 2008 I made the following promises and during my first term of office we've kept those promises:
Promise Made: We will continue to submit a budget that respects the taxpayers’ desires for government to cost less. I will eliminate the Chief Deputy position and assume many of the duties of that position and delegate the other duties to senior managers.
Promise Kept: I eliminated the Chief Deputy position as soon as I took office, and have since reduced the budget by 15% and staff by 12%.
Promise Made: I will work hard to make sure that you have all the information you need to take advantage of all the tax exemptions available to you by law.
Promise Kept: We now allow property owners to file for Homestead Exemptions on-line through our web page, eliminating the need for an office visit. I have also spoken to dozens of homeowners associations, real estate professionals, title companies, and civic clubs in an effort to share accurate information about property tax exemptions.
Promise Made: Despite a reduced budget, we will expand our community outreach programs for property owners who qualify for senior, disability, and veteran exemptions by enlisting the assistance of volunteers from service and veteran organizations.
Promise Kept: We have increased the numbers of seniors receiving low-income senior exemption by 20% and veteran's exemptions by 18%.
Promise Made: I will create a Property Appraiser’s Advisory Council made up of property owners, real estate professionals, web page users, appraisers, and petitioners who have expressed dissatisfaction with their Value Adjustment Board experiences to evaluate our policies, procedures and our web page, and to make recommendations for their improvement.
Promise Kept: I created the Advisory Council in 2009 and based on the recommendations of its members we added value history information, permit data, free downloadable sales and property files and links to deeds and tax bills to our web page. This free information helps property owners prepare for Value Adjustment Board hearings using information from our system.
Promise Made: We will make values available earlier in the year as the valuation process is completed rather than waiting until TRIM Notices are mailed in August.
Promise Kept: We now place new tax roll values on our web page in early July after the roll is submitted to the state for approval.
Political advertisement paid for and approved by Pam Dubov Republican for Pinellas County Property Appraiser
