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Lodging owners file suit for tax relief
By HARLAN WEIKLE
| Article published on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006 |
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| From left, Gloria Young, Elizabeth Barrett and Mary Harrison, all of Indian Shores, file suit against Property Appraiser Jim Smith, Tax Collector Diane Nelson, and James Zingale, Florida Department of Revenue executive director, seeking tax relief. |
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CLEARWATER – Four women arrived at the county clerk’s office on Monday, determined to save their businesses.
Representing a group of 10 mom-and-pop beach lodging owners, the four were there to file suit, complaining that their businesses are being unfairly overtaxed and owners are in jeopardy of losing their livelihoods.
Following the filing of the suit, which took about 20 minutes, the group of four held a brief news conference in the courthouse, where they explained their suit and appealed for tax reforms, claiming that Pinellas County uses a flawed standard when assessing business property situated along some of the county’s most desirable waterfront property.
The problem, said Elizabeth Barrett of Indian Shores, is that the county assesses property taxes based on, “best future use of the property” rather than actual value as it exists.
The result is, because of the real estate boom in recent years, most small business owners, on or near the beach, have experienced tax increases on the order of 300 to 400 percent.
Mary Harrison, owner of the Victoria Apartments in Indian Shores, said that her business, which has no pool, charges $925 a week for family accommodations – her tax bill went up $8,000.
“It’s the third year in a row that I’ve had to borrow to pay my taxes,” Harrison said.
She fears that soon, “only the super rich will own the beach.”
Barrett said that for the most part they have not had any pressure from developers to sell their property – the businesses are all relatively small.
“Besides,” she said, “even contractors are priced out.”
Harrison said that part of the problem is that the County Commission is, “out of control with spending.”
The mom-and-pop lodging owners would like to see taxes rates rolled back to 2000 levels with a cap applied to increases based on an index from 2 to 3 percent above inflation.
If Pinellas County wants to continue to benefit from tourism, then something must be done to help keep small, affordable motel and vacation apartments in business, the owners said.
Suzanne Iles, owner of Vacation Shores in Indian Shores, said that their group doesn’t have a lawyer.
“We can’t afford one,” she said.
They are committed to seeking tax relief for their businesses even if they have to represent themselves in court before a jury of their peers “although, if a lawyer wants to volunteer their service ...” she concluded with a note of anticipation.
The property owners said they just want to continue to provide reasonably priced vacation destinations, on the beach for middle income, working families.
“We are, after all, just a bunch of beach girls ourselves,” said Gloria Young of Indian Shores.
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Article published on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006
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