Would you consider it perfectly ok if Mack Busbee, the Okaloosa Property Appraiser, owned a title company and thus made money on real estate transactions in the county while responsible for setting their valuations?
Think about that while reading the following.
Okaloosa County’s Commission just voted to raise its millage by 11% next year. For having the temerity to speak against such an increase I was personally attacked by Commissioner Boyles who read into the record the details of my property ownership, implying that I was a “fat cat” who should not complain.
Yes, Mr. Boyles, I can afford it. I can also attend a 5:01 PM meeting 30 miles from where working people and our military had just gotten off work 1 minute prior — and thus couldn’t protest personally.
A bit of investigation leads me to believe there may be more motivating Commissioner Boyles than being called out by a voter for promoting a tax increase — and a 47% budget increase over the last five years.
Commissioner Boyles owns a title company and personally profits from increased real estate churn. Ad-valorem tax increases hurt renters more than homeowners as rental property does not enjoy either homeowner’s exemption or valuation escalator caps.
This post was published at Market-Ticker on 2017-09-09.
Follow on Twitter
Recent Comments