BELLEAIR SHORE – The Town Commission set on Sept. 20 the tax rate at .5200, which is 52 cents for each $1,000 of a home’s taxable value. That is the same as last year’s rate and .20 lower than two years ago.
Once again, none of the city’s 55 property owners attended the special meeting to comment on the town budget or tax rate. The budget changed little from its current budget, staying at approximately $89,000.
Mayor John Robertson explained that, while the town budget has remained unchanged, the property values in the town have continued to rise, which allows the town to raise the same amount of money with a lower tax rate.
In other action, the commission continued discussion of enforcing its new ban on short-term rentals. The mayor said one of the two property owners accused of renting by weekends has agreed to stop. David Sferrazza of Seminole has agreed to rent his $2.5 million home only by the month or entire year. Robertson said.
The second alleged violator, Rhonda Hogan, who owns two houses in question, told Robertson that she must rent
the houses until they are sold to avoid bank foreclosures. He reported she is still advertising those houses as rentals available by weekends or weekly leases. Each of Hogan’s houses is appraised at more than $3 million, according to Pinellas County records.
The commission approved Robertson’s request for permission to hire a special master to determine if Hogan is in violation. The mayor said he interviewed several candidates but has chosen James L. Yacavone of Clearwater for the part-time position. The salary is yet to be determined. Yacavone would be retained and called upon when needed on an hourly basis.
Other issues before the commission were put off for further review at the next commission meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 17. These include technical revisions of the town’s land use plan, establishing the town commission at the local planning board and an agreement with Pinellas County for the new Penny for Pinellas sales tax.
