Today, March 20th, the Florida Supreme court ruled against the leaseholders on Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach, and ruled that both the land and improvements of the leased properties are subject to ad-valorem taxes.
For leaseholders, this means that all unpaid property taxes and interest will be payable. Leaseholders are reminded to pay their 2013 real estate taxes by March 31st to avoid penalties.
PBA will work with Escambia County officials and the Santa Rosa Island Authority to resolve the issues that will now need to be addressed, including the elimination of lease fees, refunds of lease fees paid while we were “double taxed”, and the future of the SRIA.
If you want to read the rulings, go to www.floridasupremecourt.org and click on Case SC11-2231, the Pensacola Beach ( Ariola) case involving taxation of leased improvements, and Case SC11-1445, the Navarre Beach (Ricardo)case involving taxation of leased land.
