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Volusia Tax Reform

Volusia Tax Reform. Volusia Forever: Corruption Uncovered. History. Volusia Forever.

maris-lambert
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Volusia Tax Reform

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  1. Volusia Tax Reform Volusia Forever: Corruption Uncovered VTR

  2. History VTR

  3. Volusia Forever • The Mission of Volusia Forever:Finance the acquisition and improvement of environmentally sensitive, water resource protection, and outdoor recreation lands, and to manage these lands as conservation stewards in perpetuity. • The Goals of Volusia Forever:Conserve, maintain and restore the natural environment and provide access for the enjoyment and education of the public VTR

  4. Results • To date the Program has purchased 42 properties • Purchases include transfer of ownership to Taxpayers • 43.1 Million Costs • Cost Range from $1,028 per acre to $273,000 per acre • 7 Easements were purchased • Easements allow current owners to maintain ownership • 10.1 Million Spent on easements • O Acres available for Taxpayers to visit VTR

  5. Purchase Process • Properties are recommended for Purchase • Council Appointees known as Citizen Advisory Board Decide which Lands to Buy • Staff gets appraisals and “negotiates” terms with Sellers • Advisory Committee Recommends Purchase to Council based on Staff Feedback • Council Approves or Rejects Recommendation VTR

  6. Appraisal Process • Staff Secures appraisal(s) on properties • Staff can direct or allow appraisers to make untrue “assumptions” on land to increase appraised value • Volusia County Council Does not consider assessed value • If State is going to be a partner more than one appraisal is required • State Agencies use assessed value in addition to appraisals when determining fair value VTR

  7. Volusia Forever State Partnership 2004 Property goes on Volusia Forever “Wish List” VTR

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  10. Appraisal Review Volusia Forever Director Douglas Weaver referencing appraisals “It is what it is” VTR

  11. Volusia Forever Project 2007 Volusia County Council Paid $1,580,000.00 For Land Assessed at $77,000 k when Volusia Forever Agreed to buy it! VTR

  12. Blanchette Purchases These Parcels were placed on the Wish list in 2005. The assessed Values were Combined assessed Value was $ 421,393 County Council paid $1,900,000 VTR

  13. Kaye Parcels Purchase • Three Separate Parcels Assessed in 2002 for • $42,000 • $3,000 • $88,000 • Total Assessed Value was $133,000 • Council Paid $1,650,000 or 12 times the value our elected tax appraiser attributed to the land VTR

  14. Stanaki Property 474 • In 2007 State records show Volusia Forever “took the lead” in purchasing the property that the FDEP and DSL had offered 7.8 million for weeks earlier • In November 2007, while in possession of appraisals placing a maximum value of 8.2 million on the property County Staff asked the DCA to assist in paying 13.2 million for the property. VTR

  15. Stanaki Property: 225 • In 2007 the County entered into a partnership with SJRWMD and secured multiple appraisals with a maximum value of 3.4 million for the 225 acres. • An agreement engineered by Staff is pending Council Approval that would use Forever Funds to help pay 5.9 million for the parcels. VTR

  16. What are Easements? • The landowners receive compensation in return for the restrictions placed on their land. As with conservation easements, landowners selling their development rights retain title to their property and the right to use their land for agricultural purposes, and can still restrict public access. • By selling only their development rights, landowners can convert some of the wealth tied up in their land into cash without relinquishing ownership of the land or use of its productive capacity. (cuesfau.org/toolbox) VTR

  17. LeFils Easement • Total Cost $5.8 million • $3399 Per Acre • Exceptions: Owners Can • Subdivide and Build Homes on land • Harvest Timber in Wetlands • Continue Ranching and Timber Operations • Place fences , Roads , ponds, cell towers • Exclude public access VTR

  18. Fore Family Easements • 4 Separate Easements $ 5.7 Million • $2682 Per Acre Covered • Exceptions: Owners Can • Build Homes on land • Harvest Timber, farm land • Build ponds, hunt on property • Exclude public access to property VTR

  19. Closer Look At Fore Easements • By selling only their development rights, landowners can convert some of the wealth tied up in their land into cash • In 2006 one Easement was purchased for $1.1 million • The property covered in the Easement was Protected Wetlands that was valued by the Tax appraiser at $ 500 k. VTR

  20. Underlying Concerns • Many of the Easements or Purchases are being made on Land owned by Political Donors • Every Purchase and Easement has received unanimous support from the Council • Appraisal process is not consistent with standards in place for other land buying programs VTR

  21. Budget vs. Spending • Program Generates about $3.8 million Annually in Revenues from .2 mills of Ad Valorem Taxes • $30.4 million Generated in first 8 years • Program Spending Averages $6.5 Million Per Year • Spent $52.3 Million in First 8 years • 20 year Expected Revenues are $76 million • Program on Pace to Run out of Money by Year 11 • 46% Revenues Go to Service Debt • $1.8 million annually to Debt Service • $2.0 Million for projects VTR

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