By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

                Property Appraiser candidate Jason Whistler lightened the mood a little before taking his first question at the Levy County Republic Executive Committee candidates’ forum Friday in Cedar Key.

            “I will seriously donate 5 seconds of my time to tell my fellow candidates we have 32 more days,” he said drawing laughter. “Other than that, I’m ready for your questions. Let’s see what you got.”

            Questioner Stoney Smith asked Whistler why he is the best candidate running for the office of Property Appraiser.

            “The best 22 years of my life have been working in the property appraiser’s office. I started back in 2000. I saw growing pains. I’ve seen staff members come and go. At one time we had 17 members on staff. We’re down to eight in May – eight dedicated people that have poured a lot into that process,” Whistler said.

            “I believe we have a reputation now of being very honest, of working with people and being people friendly. We’re reasonable. We’re governed by regulations, by statutes, and there are rules we have to follow. We’re going to work it out the best we are able.”

            Smith asked if the property appraiser’s office is down to 8 staff from the original 17?

            “Is that enough to run the office?” Smith said.

            “It’s not efficient enough. Right now, we have one field guy out doing the fieldwork. We have two in the front office. I am currently having to do some of both, help out the front office, and help do some of the fieldwork. I would say we need a minimum of two more people, one in the field and one in the office.

            Smith said the county is obviously growing.

            “What makes you the most qualified of the candidates for the office?” Smith said.

            “I am the only one who is certified by the state as a Florida evaluator. I went through the courses, the test, and all that good stuff. Other than that, it’s just my experience. I’ve worked in all parts of the Property Appraiser’s office and I think probably the main thing is all the time I’ve spent knocking on people’s doors. I tell them I’m with the Property Appraiser’s office. I used to be greeted by Rottweilers, a gun; I have to explain why we are there and what we are doing. We are trying to make sure the assessments on your property are accurate.”

            “If your barn got torn down last year, you don’t want to pay taxes on improvements that aren’t there. So, I can communicate with the people. I’ve been knocking on their doors. I talked to them for more than 20 years. I went to their houses. I’ve seen some of the herbs they grow in their backyards, all kinds of things. I’m a people person. I can reason with them and I believe I have the personality to deal with property matters.”

            Whistler was asked what triggers a re-assessment of property?

            “Anytime a permit is pulled we have to go out the following year, whatever it may be. We also do a 5-year cycle. We are required by the state to revisit each piece of property every 5 years to look for any changes on the property and to make sure our assessments are accurate,” Whistler said.

            Smith asked a “what if” question about how commercial property is assessed. He said if a commercial property owner is assessed at a market rate of $150,000, but the cost approach, which is a different method, would produce a lower value of $100,000, and the income approach, which is also different, would produce the lowest value of $50,000, would Whistler be open to the cost approach?

            “Are you going to be open to something like that? I mean that’s how the banks do it,” Smith said.

            “My door is going to be open to it. I’m not familiar with the cost approach. I’m familiar with the way we’ve always done it. I don’t know if that’s the only right way to do it. I have never looked into the other way of doing commercial properties, but if it’s another option to look into, I will be open to looking into it and see what’s best for the county and for the commercial owner,” Whistler said.

            Smith asked Whistler if he knows what the average residential property tax bill is in Levy County.

            “I would say average, and it’s just a ballpark figure, $700 or $800. You probably have 15 to 20 percent of the people that are under the $25,000 Homestead cap that are getting completely exempted,” Whistler said. “They’re not paying any taxes other than the service fees. Your modest-sized houses, your 1968, 88, and 98 houses that have stood in place for a while, they are probably paying $800 to $900. A new home today, you’re probably looking at about a $2,500 to $3,000 tax bill with your exemptions.”

            Smith asked how Whistler feels about property tax exemptions.

            “What are your feelings about that?” Smith said.

            “I feel like if you are entitled to it and you meet the qualifications you certainly should get the exemptions. That’s why they’re there. That’s the only relief you’re going to get right now the way the market is and it’s steadily increasing. If you don’t get any exemptions, you won’t get any tax relief.”

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Enterprise Reporting by Terry Witt July 22, 2022; Posted July 24, 2022