Walton County Tax Collector returns $2.2 million in excess fees

DeFuniak Springs — Walton County Tax Collector Rhonda Skipper presented the Walton County Board of County Commissioners and taxing authorities with $2,221,470.18 in excess fees at the end of October.

The $2.2 million represents the unused revenues earned by the Tax Collector's Office for the taxpayers of Walton County. Each year the Walton County Tax Collector's Office returns to the Board of County Commissioners and the taxing authorities any revenues that exceed the office's operating expenses.

“We are always mindful that the money we spend ultimately belongs to the taxpayers of Walton County. We operate our office efficiently and conservatively to allow for a significant return to our taxing authorities at the end of each fiscal year,” said Skipper.

As the largest taxing authority, the Walton County Board of County Commissioners received the largest distribution of $2,042,184.59. It is the understanding of the Tax Collector's Office that these fees are already anticipated and budgeted by County Finance. The other taxing authorities receiving excess fee distributions include:
•Argyle Fire District, $ 724.17
•Tri-Village Fire, $ 451.84
•South Walton Fire, $ 127,645.32
•United Fire, $ 527.33
•South Walton Mosquito, $ 16,923.22
•Water Management, $ 8,498.84
•Mossy Head Fie, $ 877.55
•Driftwood Estates, $ 2,337.58
•Darlington Fire, $ 254.01
•Daughette Canal, $ 374.48
•Glendale Fire, $ 307.04
•Liberty Fire, $ 914.84
•Red Bay Fire, $ 524.25
•Freeport Fire, $ 1,230.47
•Imperial Lakes, $ 681.45
•Paxton Fire, $ 274.42
•Hammock Bay, $ 8,102.47
•Somerset Community, $ 6,914.74
•Coastal Lake Community, $ 1,730.36

The Tax Collector's Office is a self-sustaining office, operating from monies regulated by Florida Statutes on commissions for the collection of taxes and fees for the mandated state functions of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Department of Revenue.

For information regarding property taxes or services provided by the Walton County Tax Collector's Office, please contact us at (850) 892-8121 or visit www.waltontaxcollector.com.