The Orlando Sentinel endorses Bill Donegan for Orange County Property Appraiser

Property appraisers aren't the big names on election ballots. But voters -- particularly homeowners -- should care about who's running. Especially now.

The difficult economic times demand that there can't be any major glitches in the property appraiser's office. People need equitable assessments in these volatile times. The good news is that this office is already in the capable hands of Bill Donegan.

That is why the Sentinel endorses Bill Donegan for Orange County Property Appraiser.

Our position: Bill Donegan has shown that he deserves to be elected Orange County appraiser

For nearly two decades, Bill Donegan has amassed an admirable record of public service - a journey that began on the Maitland parks board and included an eight-year sting on the Orange County Commission.....

....... In two, year, Mr. Donegan has moved aggressively to improve how property taxes are assessed in Orange County. Most recently, he took on heavy hitters in the tourism industry, refusing to accept their claim that land slated for development should be assessed at much lower agricultural rates. That move alone could add $ 42 million to county tax coffers.

He's also made it easier for homeowners to file homestead exemptions online. And he's upgraded the appraiser's website, making it more accessible to Spanish-speaking residents....

A seedling does not a tree farm make - especially  when it's planted on property primed for
commercial development.  That simple, if not obvious, argument could result in a financial boon for Orange County taxpayers, courtesy of Property Appraiser Bill Donegan.

For more than a year, Mr. Donegan has waged a pioneering battle with major corporations that claim agricultural tax exemptions on land ultimately slated for development .......

......... Mr. Donegan has done an admirable job of protecting taxpayers.