Tax collector calls new rate increases ‘unprecedented’

By Carrie A. Mizell

Lines were backed up all the way down the courthouse on Monday as residents waited to renew their tags and titles at the Gilchrist County Tax Collector’s office prior to an unprecedented statewide rate increase that took effect Tuesday.
Marilyn Bruce, Gilchrist County tax collector, reported that her office had taken in $43,726.46 in tag and title renewals on Monday, which is a drastic climb from the office’s typical fiscal day, which typically accounts for $5,000 to $6,000.
The new fees, which were passed by the Florida Legislature in the spring, include an increase in standard driver’s license renewals from $27 to $48, initial vehicle registrations up from $100 to $225, and title fees increased from $24 to $70. State lawmakers believe the estimated $2.2 billion the new fees generate will be used to fill a budget shortfall.
“Usually the fees are raised a few dollars, but nothing like this,” Bruce said. “People just don’t have the money for this.”
The tax collector said her office was unusually busy last week as citizens started getting their tags and titles renewed prior to the rate increase. On Friday, the four office clerks reported doing $28,033.25 worth of renewals.
“This is just unprecedented! They [the rates] have never been raised by this magnitude,” said Bruce, who has worked in the Gilchrist County Tax Collector’s Office since 1976.
According to Bruce, the state’s computer system was unequipped to handle the large volume of transactions, as it continually crashed throughout the day on Monday.