Lee Tax Collector visits Chamber luncheon
In an attempt to interject some humor, Joanna Robertson of the Lee County Tax Collector’s Office described her office’s job by saying, “We relocate your money from your checking account.”
After which Larry Hart, the Lee County Tax Collector, said, “We take credit cards, debit cards, and your first born.”
Both got laughs to lighten the mood as Hart was the guest speaker for the monthly North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Lenny C’s on Wednesday.
Hart spoke for 20 minutes about his job and what the office does, as well as answer questions from Chamber members.
“We make sure you pay your fair share and we do it with a smile,” Hart said in regards to his customer service model that has worked so well.
One of the misnomers about the office is that it is a part of Lee County, when it is really an agent for the state of Florida.
“We get our directions from the Department of Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Department of Revenue in Tallahassee,” Hart said. “Our work for Lee County is on a contract basis.”
The office collects $1.2 billion from county taxpayers, $1 billion of which comes from ad valorem taxes, and expects to take a fee of nearly $29 million this year, much of which will pay for the 208 employees of the office.
Hart told the chamber the news that the fees to renew your tag was brought back down to 2009 levels effective Sept. 1 after it was sharply increased following the market downturn.
Hart said looking forward, the office is looking at issuing concealed weapons permits for Lee County residents to help make the process quicker, since Lee residents have had to go to Charlotte County to get them.
Hart also said with drivers licenses going from six years to eight years, the loss of revenue will begin to be felt this year.
“But because of you hiring people with the economy turning around, we’ll bring more people in to move that number up,” Hart said.
In other business, the Chamber will hold a Bingo luncheon on Saturday, June 21, at Heron’s Glen, which will also host the next business luncheon on June 18.
The Bingo luncheon will be $15 or a table of eight for $100. Among the prizes so far is a 10 pound chocolate bar.