Bill Donegan, CFA

Finance Chairman
Michael Grindstaff

Treasurer
Allan E. Keen

Deputy Treasurer
Judy Merk

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 948553
Maitland, FL 32794

Phone
407-644-VOTE
(8683)

Fax
407-644-VOTE
(8683)

In these difficult financial times fiscal responsibility has been one of my top priorities. How to do more with less? In the past 5 years our actual core budget request showed a -5% decrease ($490,000 reduction) from 2004/05 to 2010/11. However, with the realignment of personnel we were able to maintain the same level of property reviews even with an additional 89,000 new parcels added (a 27% increase in workload) from the run-up in the real estate market during 2004 – 2011.

During the same period with technology advances, product sales, investment management, a reduction in litigation, and expense controls, my office has returned to Orange County excess fees of $8,700,000. I expect to end the fiscal year 2010/11 with an estimated $900,000 returned to Orange County.

Leading the State in website technology, the Orange County Property Appraiser office was the first and only website to allow taxpayer’s the ability to file their homestead exemption “ON-LINE” with an electronic signature. We now take 52% of all new homestead applications ON-LINE and 22% by mail, so that customers will not have to travel anywhere to file their homestead exemption.

I have added on the Property Appraiser’s web site (www.ocpafl.org), the ability for all business owners to quickly and easily e-file online their annual Tangible Personal Property (TPP) Tax Returns by simply uploading a spreadsheet. E-file provides a quicker, easier and friendlier to business owners by eliminating tedious paperwork.

I will be aggressively pursuing “Homestead Fraud” so that the tax burden is not shifted to other taxpayers. During the period from 2002 through 2010 this Property Appraiser’s office has recovered $4 million dollars in additional taxes for local governmental agencies by adding $232 million dollars in property value from property owner who file fraudulent homestead exemptions.

Under Florida’s public records law this office provides the public, who have internet access, with the best comprehensive information they can legally obtain with an office visit, but I am careful to withhold such sensitive information as social security numbers and other exceptions as provided by Florida law.

Customer service is my number one goal. The comment cards we receive from our customers show that 99.8% of customers rate our service as excellent. When I entered the Property Appraiser’s Office, I wanted our service to be quicker – friendlier – easier. And that will continue to be my goal in the future.

Political Advertisement paid for and approved by Bill Donegan, Republican for Orange County Property Appraiser