The 2023 Florida Statutes (including Special Session C)

Title XIV
TAXATION AND FINANCE

Chapter 197
TAX COLLECTIONS, SALES, AND LIENS

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F.S. 197.3632

197.3632 Uniform method for the levy, collection, and enforcement of non-ad valorem assessments.—

(1) As used in this section:

(a) “Levy” means the imposition of a non-ad valorem assessment, stated in terms of rates, against all appropriately located property by a governmental body authorized by law to impose non-ad valorem assessments.

(b) “Local government” means a county, municipality, or special district levying non-ad valorem assessments.

(d) “Non-ad valorem assessment” means only those assessments which are not based upon millage and which can become a lien against a homestead as permitted in s. 4, Art. X of the State Constitution.

(e) “Non-ad valorem assessment roll” means the roll prepared by a local government and certified to the tax collector for collection.

(f) “Compatible electronic medium” or “media” means machine-readable electronic repositories of data and information, including, but not limited to, magnetic disk, magnetic tape, and magnetic diskette technologies, which provide without modification that the data and information therein are in harmony with and can be used in concert with the data and information on the ad valorem tax roll keyed to the property identification number used by the property appraiser.

(g) “Capital project assessment” means a non-ad valorem assessment levied to fund a capital project, which assessment may be payable in annual payments with interest, over a period of years.

(2) A local governing board shall enter into a written agreement with the property appraiser and tax collector providing for reimbursement of necessary administrative costs incurred under this section. Administrative costs shall include, but not be limited to, those costs associated with personnel, forms, supplies, data processing, computer equipment, postage, and programming.

(3)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a local government which is authorized to impose a non-ad valorem assessment and which elects to use the uniform method of collecting such assessment for the first time as authorized in this section shall adopt a resolution at a public hearing prior to January 1 or, if the property appraiser, tax collector, and local government agree, March 1. The resolution shall clearly state its intent to use the uniform method of collecting such assessment. The local government shall publish notice of its intent to use the uniform method for collecting such assessment weekly in a newspaper of general circulation within each county contained in the boundaries of the local government for 4 consecutive weeks preceding the hearing. The resolution shall state the need for the levy and shall include a legal description of the boundaries of the real property subject to the levy. If the resolution is adopted, the local governing board shall send a copy of it by United States mail to the property appraiser, the tax collector, and the department by January 10 or, if the property appraiser, tax collector, and local government agree, March 10.

(b) Annually by June 1, the property appraiser shall provide each local government using the uniform method with the following information by list or compatible electronic medium: the legal description of the property within the boundaries described in the resolution, and the names and addresses of the owners of such property. Such information shall reference the property identification number and otherwise conform in format to that contained on the ad valorem roll submitted to the department. The property appraiser is not required to submit information which is not on the ad valorem roll or compatible electronic medium submitted to the department. If the local government determines that the information supplied by the property appraiser is insufficient for the local government’s purpose, the local government shall obtain additional information from any other source.

(4)(a) A local government shall adopt a non-ad valorem assessment roll at a public hearing held between January 1 and September 15, or between January 1 and September 25 for any county as defined in s. 125.011(1), if:

1. The non-ad valorem assessment is levied for the first time;

2. The non-ad valorem assessment is increased beyond the maximum rate authorized by law or judicial decree at the time of initial imposition;

3. The local government’s boundaries have changed, unless all newly affected property owners have provided written consent for such assessment to the local governing board; or

4. There is a change in the purpose for such assessment or in the use of the revenue generated by such assessment.

(b) At least 20 days prior to the public hearing, the local government shall notice the hearing by first-class United States mail and by publication in a newspaper generally circulated within each county contained in the boundaries of the local government. The notice by mail shall be sent to each person owning property subject to the assessment and shall include the following information: the purpose of the assessment; the total amount to be levied against each parcel; the unit of measurement to be applied against each parcel to determine the assessment; the number of such units contained within each parcel; the total revenue the local government will collect by the assessment; a statement that failure to pay the assessment will cause a tax certificate to be issued against the property which may result in a loss of title; a statement that all affected property owners have a right to appear at the hearing and to file written objections with the local governing board within 20 days of the notice; and the date, time, and place of the hearing. However, notice by mail shall not be required if notice by mail is otherwise required by general or special law governing a taxing authority and such notice is served at least 30 days prior to the authority’s public hearing on adoption of a new or amended non-ad valorem assessment roll. The published notice shall contain at least the following information: the name of the local governing board; a geographic depiction of the property subject to the assessment; the proposed schedule of the assessment; the fact that the assessment will be collected by the tax collector; and a statement that all affected property owners have the right to appear at the public hearing and the right to file written objections within 20 days of the publication of the notice.

(c) At the public hearing, the local governing board shall receive the written objections and shall hear testimony from all interested persons. The local governing board may adjourn the hearing from time to time. If the local governing board adopts the non-ad valorem assessment roll, it shall specify the unit of measurement for the assessment and the amount of the assessment. Notwithstanding the notices provided for in paragraph (b), the local governing board may adjust the assessment or the application of the assessment to any affected property based on the benefit which the board will provide or has provided to the property with the revenue generated by the assessment.

(5)(a) By September 15 of each year, or by September 25 for any county as defined in s. 125.011(1), the chair of the local governing board or his or her designee shall certify a non-ad valorem assessment roll on compatible electronic medium to the tax collector. The local government shall post the non-ad valorem assessment for each parcel on the roll. The tax collector shall not accept any such roll that is not certified on compatible electronic medium and that does not contain the posting of the non-ad valorem assessment for each parcel. It is the responsibility of the local governing board that such roll be free of errors and omissions. Alterations to such roll may be made by the chair or his or her designee up to 10 days before certification. If the tax collector discovers errors or omissions on such roll, he or she may request the local governing board to file a corrected roll or a correction of the amount of any assessment.

(b) By December 15 of each year, the tax collector shall provide to the department a copy of each local governing board’s non-ad valorem assessment roll containing the data elements and in the format prescribed by the executive director. In addition, a report shall be provided to the department by December 15 of each year for each non-ad valorem assessment roll, including, but not limited to, the following information:

1. The name and type of local governing board levying the non-ad valorem assessment;

2. Whether or not the local government levies a property tax;

3. The basis for the levy;

4. The rate of assessment;

5. The total amount of non-ad valorem assessment levied; and

6. The number of parcels affected.

(6) If the non-ad valorem assessment is to be collected for a period of more than 1 year or is to be amortized over a number of years, the local governing board shall so specify and shall not be required to annually adopt the non-ad valorem assessment roll, and shall not be required to provide individual notices to each taxpayer unless the provisions of subsection (4) apply. Notice of an assessment, other than that which is required under subsection (4), may be provided by including the assessment in the property appraiser’s notice of proposed property taxes and proposed or adopted non-ad valorem assessments under s. 200.069. However, the local governing board shall inform the property appraiser, tax collector, and department by January 10 if it intends to discontinue using the uniform method of collecting such assessment.

(7) Non-ad valorem assessments collected pursuant to this section shall be included in the combined notice for ad valorem taxes and non-ad valorem assessments provided for in s. 197.3635. A separate mailing is authorized only as a solution to the most exigent factual circumstances. However, if a tax collector cannot merge a non-ad valorem assessment roll to produce such a notice, he or she shall mail a separate notice of non-ad valorem assessments or shall direct the local government to mail such a separate notice. In deciding whether a separate mailing is necessary, the tax collector shall consider all costs to the local government and taxpayers of such a separate mailing and the adverse effects to the taxpayers of delayed and multiple notices. The local government whose roll could not be merged shall bear all costs associated with the separate notice.

(8)(a) Non-ad valorem assessments collected pursuant to this section shall be subject to all collection provisions of this chapter, including provisions relating to discount for early payment, prepayment by installment method, deferred payment, penalty for delinquent payment, and issuance and sale of tax certificates and tax deeds for nonpayment.

(b) Within 30 days following the hearing provided in subsection (4), any person having any right, title, or interest in any parcel against which an assessment has been levied may elect to prepay the same in whole, and the amount of such assessment shall be the full amount levied, reduced, if the local government so provides, by a discount equal to any portion of the assessment which is attributable to the parcel’s proportionate share of any bond financing costs, provided the errors and insolvency procedures available for use in the collection of ad valorem taxes pursuant to s. 197.492 are followed.

(c) Non-ad valorem assessments shall also be subject to the provisions of s. 192.091(2)(b), or the tax collector at his or her option shall be compensated for the collection of non-ad valorem assessments based on the actual cost of collection, whichever is greater. However, a municipal or county government shall only compensate the tax collector for the actual cost of collecting non-ad valorem assessments.

(9) A local government may elect to use the uniform method of collecting non-ad valorem assessments as authorized by this section for any assessment levied pursuant to general or special law or local government ordinance or resolution, regardless of when the assessment was initially imposed or whether it has previously been collected by another method.

(10)(a) Capital project assessments may be levied and collected before the completion of the capital project.

(b)1. Except as provided in this subsection, the local government shall comply with all of the requirements set forth in subsections (1)-(8) for capital project assessments.

2. The requirements set forth in subsection (4) are satisfied for capital project assessments if:

a. The local government adopts or reaffirms the non-ad valorem assessment roll at a public hearing held at any time before certification of the non-ad valorem assessment roll pursuant to subsection (5) for the first year in which the capital project assessment is to be collected in the manner authorized by this section; and

b. The local government provides notice of the public hearing in the manner provided in paragraph (4)(b).

3. The local government is not required to allow prepayment for capital project assessments as set forth in paragraph (8)(b); however, if prepayment is allowed, the errors and insolvency procedures available for use in the collection of ad valorem taxes pursuant to s. 197.492 must be followed.

(c) Any hearing or notice required by this section may be combined with any other hearing or notice required by this section or by the general or special law or municipal or county ordinance pursuant to which a capital project assessment is levied.

(11) The department shall adopt rules to administer this section.

History.—s. 68, ch. 88-130; s. 7, ch. 88-216; s. 8, ch. 90-343; s. 2, ch. 91-238; s. 1013, ch. 95-147; s. 1, ch. 97-66; s. 1, ch. 2003-70; s. 10, ch. 2008-173; s. 13, ch. 2016-128; s. 11, ch. 2018-110.

F.S. 197.3632 on Google Scholar

F.S. 197.3632 on Casetext

Amendments to 197.3632

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 197.3632

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

Current data shows no reason an arrest or criminal charge should have occurred directly under Florida Statute 197.3632.

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases from cite.case.law:

FLORIDA BANKERS ASSOCIATION, v. FLORIDA DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION, v., 176 So. 3d 1258 (Fla. 2015)

. . . the assessments must be collected pursuant to the “Uniform Collection method as set forth in Sections 197.3632 . . . real property must be collected pursuant to the Uniform Collection method as set forth in Sections 197.3632 . . . A non-ad valorem assessment shall be collected pursuant to s. 197.3632....” § 163.08(4), Fla. . . . statute to be collected under the “uniform method” provided in chapter 197, Florida Statutes, Section 197.3632 . . . for delinquent payment, and issuance and sale of tax certificates and tax deeds for nonpayment.” § 197.3632 . . .

THOMAS, v. CLEAN ENERGY COASTAL CORRIDOR,, 176 So. 3d 249 (Fla. 2015)

. . . to be collected on the tax bill pursuant to the uniform method of collection authorized by section 197.3632 . . . affected real property must be collected pursuant to the uniform collection method set forth in Section 197.3632 . . . See generally § 197.3632, Fla. Stat. . . . improvements “may be collected as a non-ad valorem assessment];, which] shall be collected pursuant to s. 197.3632 . . .

WEST VILLAGES IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, v. NORTH PORT ROAD AND DRAINAGE DISTRICT, a, 36 So. 3d 837 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2010)

. . . receive any benefits from the services provided by the NPRDD; and (3) NPRDD failed to comply with section 197.3632 . . .

CITIZENS ADVOCATING RESPONSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS, INC. v. CITY OF MARCO ISLAND,, 959 So. 2d 203 (Fla. 2007)

. . . assessments under the uniform method of collecting non-ad valorem assessments as authorized by section 197.3632 . . .

TROUT CREEK PROPERTIES, LLC, a LLC, a v. AKERMAN, SENTERFITT EIDSON, P. A. a, 294 F. Supp. 2d 1280 (M.D. Fla. 2003)

. . . Alternatively, the CDD may choose to levy and collect the special assessments through § 197.3632, the . . . Aker-man bases its argument on § 197.3632(8)(a) of the Florida Statutes, which states: Non-ad valorem . . . Section 197.3632(l)(a) defines the term “levy” to mean “the imposition of a non-ad valorem assessment . . . Additionally, Akerman’s theory conflicts with the plain language of § 197.3632. . . . See § 197.3632(4)(a)(l), Fla. Stat. . . .

In OLDE FLORIDA INVESTMENTS, LTD. v. R. J. HOLDCO, As Co. L., 293 B.R. 531 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2003)

. . . may be collected at the CID’s discretion by the tax collector pursuant to Section 197.363 or Section 197.3632 . . .

CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE, v. ZLINKOFF, J., 821 So. 2d 1130 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2002)

. . . assessment (in 1990/91), were invalid for failure to follow the strict notice procedures required by section 197.3632 . . . Atlantic Gulf, these assessments are invalid for failure to abide by the notice requirements of section 197.3632 . . .

In OLDE FLORIDA INVESTMENTS, LTD. v. R. J. Co. L., 272 B.R. 779 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2001)

. . . net proceeds derived from the levy and collection of non ad valorem assessments as defined in Section 197.3632 . . .

COLLIER COUNTY, v. STATE, 733 So. 2d 1012 (Fla. 1999)

. . . collected by the uniform method for collection of non-ad valorem assessments established by section 197.3632 . . .

ATLANTIC GULF COMMUNITIES CORPORATION, a v. CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE, a, 764 So. 2d 14 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1999)

. . . method for the levy, collection, and enforcement of non-ad valorem assessments set forth in section 197.3632 . . . use the uniform method, its failure to follow the mandatory notice and hearing procedures of section 197.3632 . . . See §§ 197.3632(8)(a), 197.432-197.562, Fla. Stat. (1997). . . . The parties agree that the City complied with the procedural requirements of section 197.3632 for the . . . Section 197.3632(4) creates a procedural mechanism to give taxpayers notice of certain non-ad valorem . . .

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, a v. BELL, III,, 717 So. 2d 85 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1998)

. . . protection on the annual tax notice pursuant to the uniform collection method contained in section 197.3632 . . . See 197.3632(1)(d), Fla. Stat. (defining “special assessment”). . . . As a result, the County elected not to use the section 197.3632 procedure that year, but in response . . . See § 197.3632(3), (9), Fla. Stat. . . . confirmed by Florida Administrative Code Rule 12D-18.001, which implements section 197.3632. . . .

LAKE COUNTY, v. WATER OAK MANAGEMENT CORPORATION,, 695 So. 2d 667 (Fla. 1997)

. . . districts into a single unit and authorized the collection of special assessments pursuant to section 197.3632 . . .

WATER OAK MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, v. LAKE COUNTY,, 673 So. 2d 135 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1996)

. . . districts into a single unit and authorized the collection of special assessments pursuant to section 197.3632 . . .

MADISON COUNTY, v. D. FOXX, 636 So. 2d 39 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1994)

. . . assessments on the ad valorem tax bill, and invoking the statutory collection method provided for in section 197.3632 . . . of clarification, special assessments, or non ad-valorem assessments as they are called by section 197.3632 . . . and which can become a lien on the homestead pursuant to Article X § 4 of the Florida Constitution. § 197.3632 . . . valorem assessment procedure to affix assessments on the ad valorem tax bill, set forth in section 197.3632 . . .

CITY OF BOCA RATON, v. STATE, 595 So. 2d 25 (Fla. 1992)

. . . year when the legislature amended section 197.3631, Florida Statutes (1989), to read in part: “Section 197.3632 . . .