Amendment One Costs Highlands $519 Million

The five biggest taxing districts in Highlands County lost more than $519 million dollars in taxable land values this year, according to Property Appraiser Raymond McIntyre.

The drop was an effect of Amendment One, the property tax reform Florida voters passed in January, McIntyre said.

Amendment One mandated an extra $25,000 homestead exemption, and a $25,000 personal property tax exemption for mobile homes and businesses.

After $48.3 million in personal property tax exemptions were applied to the value of mobile homes, the county wound up with only three personal property tax accounts, all in upscale Tanglewood, McIntyre said. Last year, thousands of mobile home owners paid personal property taxes on attachments like sun rooms.

Mobile homeowners still pay tax on the vehicle itself, much as an automobile owner does. The owner of the mobile home park is still taxed on the lot, McIntyre said.

Additionally, $59.7 million in $25,000 personal property exemptions were applied to businesses, the tax assessor said.

Railroad properties also got a $2.5 million reduction in property values, McIntyre said.

In total, $110 million in business and mobile home personal property tax valuations were granted, McIntyre said.

Tax Collections

TAXING DISTRICT

2007

2008

Difference

Highlands County

$50,508,390

$44,667,386

-$2,899,863

School District

$52,691,264

$51,562,847

-$1,128,417

City of Sebring

$4,104,373

$4,002,784

-$129,828

Avon Park

$1,690,625

$1,601,911

-$64,005

Lake Placid

$815,112

$824,877

$18,151

Taxes on business, residential, vacant properties