DECEMBER 16, 2011 UPDATE
Two
complaints were filed on December 9, 2011 in the Escambia County Circuit Court
on behalf of Pensacola Beach leaseholders.
These filings met the deadline set in Florida statutes for initiating
lawsuits contesting ad valorem taxes.
The
first action is a continuation of the series of cases we have filed each year since
2004 challenging the taxation of leasehold improvements. The list of named parties in 2011 in that
case can be viewed by clicking on “List of 2011 Plaintiffs – Improvements” on the left side of the
home page. Had this action not been
filed, the appeal itself would have been subject to dismissal.
[In the pending appeal, on November 17, 2011, a Notice to Invoke Discretionary Jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court was filed, requesting that court to consider overturning the ruling of the First District Court of Appeal. The assigned case number is SC11-2231.
Here is a link to the Supreme Court docket:
The
other complaint that was filed on December 9 was on behalf of those who
responded to a recent mailing and posting for new plaintiffs contesting the
taxation of leasehold land. For 2011,
the Escambia County Property Appraiser for the first time included land value
along with improvements in the ad valorem taxes accessed for Pensacola
Beach. The list of named parties in that
case can be viewed by clicking on “List of 2011 Plaintiffs – Land” on the left side of the home
page.
Please note
in both lists, names are represented as they appear on the 2011 tax bill. Name changes that were noted in your
correspondence were not made if they were not also reflected on the tax bill. If there has been a name change in the
assignment of lease or some other legal process such as probate or divorce,
please provide the necessary documentation to the appropriate authority to have
the change made. If you have, or
previously had, an attorney assisting you in such
matters, that person should be able to provide further information to the
taxing officials.