By Dale Hart- For Property Appraiser
From the start, my goal as a candidate for Levy Property Appraiser has been to bring to light the stagnation and wrongful taxation in the office. Given the chance, I will fix these issues. I may not be the most talented public speaker, but I hope the following examples I present below will allow you a glimpse through my eyes. Let’s take a ride, and I’ll explain.
Exhibit A1
Head north on SR 121 past the county road intersection and the political sign graveyard halfway down the hill to the right. We’ll start on the Marion County side for reference. The land data shows the property totals 3,399.56 acres, broken out as follows:
- 2,946.07 acres of type 2 timber
- 160 acres of swamp
- 37.20 acres of type 3 timber
- 250 acres of a lake
- 1 acre of non-agricultural land
- 6.41 acres of type 4 timber
- 1 acre of non-agricultural land
- 1.80 acres of a cemetery
- 33.08 acres of non-usable land
(The number next to the timber type represents the soil type, with 1 being the highest value in price and fertility.) The way this property is broken out, you can picture it without ever setting foot on it.
Land Data Values & Key Code Numbers
- 5511 Type 2 Timber: $341 per acre
- 9640 Swamp: $50 per acre
- 5611 Type 3 Timber: $219 per acre
- 9510 Lake: $50 per acre
- 9994 Non-agricultural
- 5711 Type 4 Timber: $171 per acre
- 9994 Non-agricultural
- 7610 Cemetery: $0
- 9640 Non-usable Land: $50 per acre
Property Link to Marion County PA site: https://www.pa.marion.fl.us/PRC.aspx?key=25984&YR=2024
Exhibit A2
We cross back into Levy County to the adjoining property. The land line shows this property has 90.19 acres of type 2 timber with no breakout of swamp, pasture, or ponds, even though aerials clearly show them. If broken out properly, this landowner would pay a little less. The appraiser did not use the Ag Land Codes, which should be code 5500.
Land Line Value
- Type 2 Timber: $302 per acre
Property Link to Levy County PA site: https://qpublic.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx?AppID=930&LayerID=18185&PageTypeID=4&PageID=8127&Q=433916632&KeyValue=0467800100
Exhibit B1
Head south on US 41, turn left on CR 326, cross the tracks, and continue straight around the curve to the right. Once again, starting on the Marion County side for reference the land data shows 57.06 acres total acres.54.38 acres of Pasture 4 and 3.22 acres of non-agricultural land.
As it’s cleared pasture, no other breakout is needed.
Land Data Value and Key Code Numbers:
- 6302 Pasture 4: $182 per acre
Property Link to Marion County PA site: https://www.pa.marion.fl.us/PRC.aspx?key=3307259&YR=2024
Exhibit B2
Crossing back into Levy County to the adjoining property, we have 90 acres of Pasture 2 with no further breakout. Aerials show timber, hardwoods, and non-usable land (test pit).
Land Line Value
- 6100 Pasture 2: $252 per acre
Property Link to Levy County PA site: https://qpublic.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx?AppID=930&LayerID=18185&PageTypeID=4&PageID=8127&Q=222708038&KeyValue=0527600100
Exhibit C1
Next, we head east on SR 24 out of Bronson towards the town I grew up in, Archer. Through the dip at University Oaks, hang a left on County Line Road past the Flying Gator RC Club. Left on SW 127th Ave, down a little way on the right. Starting on the Alachua County side for reference: 80 acres of land broken out into 70 acres of Pasture 3 and 10 acres of productive swamp. I do not have the land codes for Alachua County.
Property Link to Levy County PA site: https://qpublic.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx?AppID=1081&LayerID=26490&PageTypeID=4&PageID=10770&KeyValue=02716-000-000
Exhibit C2
Crossing the county line/limerock road back into Levy County to the adjoining property: 86 acres total, 84 acres of Pasture 1, and a 2-acre non-agricultural home site is the only thing broken out. From aerials, a pond and hardwoods can be seen.
Land Line Value
- 6000 Pasture 1: $252 per acre
Property Link to Levy County PA site: https://qpublic.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx?AppID=930&LayerID=18185&PageTypeID=4&PageID=8127&Q=192163245&KeyValue=0314700000
Levy County Horse Tax?
Hopefully, you can see my point. If properly broken out, land taxes would be a lot less, and if the soil types were properly assessed, many landowners would pay even less. The NRCS is the body that determines soil types for the whole country. It states only 7% of the State of Florida is type 1 or 2 soil, yet 150+ row crops and pastures were approved for Ag exemption this year, and nearly all were type 1 or 2, including 31 properties with what can only be described as a horse tax. Land use code 6010 is something I’ve only seen on horse pastures.
- 6000 Pasture 1: $252 per acre
- 6010 Pasture: $450 per acre
As a fellow taxpayer, I stand ready to fix these issues and many more that are harder to explain in a few paragraphs. There are many new technologies available to aid in fixing these issues. My campaign slogan is “End The War On Taxpayers” for a good reason!
—————————–
Posted August 5, 2024
