TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Land Improvements Hit Property Owners Hard

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOE SEELIG

Highlands Today

Published: January 13, 2009

SEBRING - When Jean and Marie Lassegue, of Miramar, bought two vacant lots in Sun 'n Lake of Sebring in 2005, they paid $14,000 each, according to their daughter Stephana Lassegue.

It was meant to be the place where they retired.

Since then, their property taxes have soared from $71.73 to $940.78 for one lot and $935.81 for the other.

Now, the Lassegues say they are shocked at receiving two additional bills for the two lots.
Capital improvements planned by Sun 'n Lake for the area will cost the Lassegues more than $43,000 through special assessments.

Their yearly special assessment, amortized over 20 years, increased by $908.98 on their lot in Unit 16, Area C, and $1,265.13 for the lot in Unit 16, Area A. The payment includes a 9 percent rate of interest.

They bought the lots to build on for retirement, said Stephana Lassegue.

"Now, with the most recent bill, they're looking to sell them," she said. "This is robbing them of their whole retirement."

General Manager Al Grieshaber Jr. told the couple that the improvements were approved on March 28 for installing underground electric, potable water and sewer lines. Roads and drainage were already in place, he said.

"If it's ready to build on, it's worth more than if it's not ready to build, without roads, sewer, water or electric," he said. "Certainly, you'd think it would add (to the land) the value of the improvements."

The total value of the project is approximately $9.6 million, said Grieshaber.

The district held several public hearings prior to the final vote and notices were sent to the landowners, Grieshaber added.

Jean Lassegue disagrees.

"I was never notified prior to implementation of the capital improvements on my two lands. As an owner, I am entitled to a prior notice on any future construction done within the perimeter of my lands," he wrote in a letter to Grieshaber.

On Dec. 30, the Lassegues also sent a second letter to George Puffenberger, Sun 'n Lake of Sebring Improvement District Board of Supervisors president, and the board members.

"I am politely requesting for a dismissal of this ludicrous bill that will inevitably destroy my credibility if not paid by March 2009," Jean Lassegue wrote. "I am a hard-working, diligent, tax-paying citizen who along with everyone else is experiencing the effects of this downward economy.

"I never received any letters informing me that capital improvements would be done, if I had known I would have made my complaint known before this assessment was approved."

Stephana Lassegue said that her parents visited the land on Monday and didn't see any visible improvements.

"It's something we were never informed they were doing this. If we had been informed ahead of time we would have gone to the board of supervisors and given them our complaint," she added.

There are 536 lots affected in Unit 16-A and 324 lots affected in Unit 16-B, the two areas where the Lassegues own their lots.

"We've had other people who have questioned it," Grieshaber said.

Most understood the improvements were necessary and that would increase the value of their land, he said.

"The majority have accepted it," he said.
Grieshaber said Monday the underground improvements are in place.

"I understand it wasn't in (the Lassegues') budget," he said. "If the board of supervisors forgave special assessments for one, they would have to forgive them for all property owners. They would never get another loan; I would assure you."

The security for the bank loan is the property upon which the improvement has been made; it's not a district debt, Grieshaber said.

"If special assessments go unpaid, the district has the fiduciary responsibility to collect the special assessment and to use its foreclosure power to do so," Grieshaber said.

Highlands Today reporter Joe Seelig can be reached at (863) 386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com .

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT