High Springs Owes for Back Property Taxes

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The City of High Springs is arrears in taxes to the tune of some $15,000. City Commissioners were surprised during their Nov. 19 meeting to find out that the City owes back taxes on 20 – 25 parcels of land in the amount of approximately $15,500. A letter received on Oct. 19 from the Alachua County Tax Collector’s Office indicating it was their final notice to the City prior to selling the properties at auction was a surprise to City staff, who say they never received previous notification of taxes due.

The city attorney recommended that the City pay the back taxes immediately to forestall any further action by the County. He indicated that further research may lead to the City being able to apply for refunds for some of the properties.

Apparently, some of the properties had been deeded to a developer who never developed them and ultimately gave them back to the City.

Commissioner Scott Jamison persisted that for the time those properties were in someone else’s hands, they should be paying the taxes on them. While all agreed to that logic, immediate action was required and further research on the part of the City would be required.

Ultimately, Jamison moved and Commissioner Linda Jones seconded a motion to pay the taxes. The motion received unanimous approval.

In another action, Commissioners unanimously approved Resolution No. 2020-N, which urges the Florida Legislature to approve Medicaid expansion for certain adults under the age of 65 in an effort to improve the health of all Floridians.

League of Woman Voters member Diane Imperio addressed the Commission and said that according to the Florida Policy Institute, Florida would see net state budget savings of roughly $200 million in Fiscal Year 2022-23 by expanding the Medicaid program.

She specified that nearly 10,000 adults in Alachua County between the ages of 19 and 64 have incomes below 138 of the federal poverty level and are uninsured. “More than 800,000 Floridians would be covered if Medicaid expansion is approved,” said Imperio.

The resolution urges the governor and legislature to accept federal funds to expand Medicaid in Florida rather than fund healthcare elsewhere.

Following Imperio’s presentation and response to questions, Commissioners approved the resolution and it will be sent to the governor and state legislature upon signing.

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