Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: George Tablack
Department: Finance and Administrative Services Division: Records, Taxes, and Treasury
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO APPROVE County Administrator or written designee to take any actions necessary to effectuate the escheatment of the Lands Available for Taxes property listed on Exhibit 1 to the Broward County Board of County Commissioners pursuant to Florida Statutes Section 197.502. (Commission District 6)
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Why Action is Necessary
This action is necessary pursuant to Florida Statutes Section 197.502.
What Action Accomplishes
This action is a statutory remedy for the continued failure to pay ad valorem and non-ad valorem real estate taxes.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☐County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE RECORDS, TAXES, AND TREASURY DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
Pursuant to Florida Statutes Section 197.502, the property listed in Exhibit 1 had investors paying the property owner's delinquent real estate taxes in exchange for tax certificates bid at public auctions.
These certificates were not redeemed by the property owner(s), and after 18 months from the date tax certificates were issued, the investor filed a tax deed application. This is the beginning of the process to bring this property to public auction.
The property was offered for sale at a public tax deed auction conducted on May 19, 2021. Since there were no bids at auction, the property was struck to the investor who filed the tax deed application. The investor did not pay the additional taxes, costs, and fees due within 30 days of the attempted tax deed auction.
As a result of the investor’s inactions, the property was categorized as Lands Available for Taxes (LAFT). While on the list of LAFT, the property was made available for purchase to any person, the County, or any governmental unit for three years subsequent to the date of the last auction.
Since there was no purchase of the property from the list of LAFT, three years after the day the property was offered for public auction and in accordance with Florida Statutes Section 197.502, the property is eligible to be escheated to the county in which the property is located, free and clear.
Source of Additional Information
Lisa M. Bailey, Director | Records, Taxes and Treasury Division, (954) 357-9734
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The property listed as Lands Available for Taxes has a total approximate outstanding balance of $17,607 in unpaid real estate taxes. Broward County's portion of this outstanding balance is approximately $4,402. Escheating this property to the County is the statutory remedy to recover this loss.