Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Taxes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hernando County VAB approves magistrate recommendations, certifies tax-impact forms and renews counsel
Summary
At its March 14 meeting, the Hernando County Value Adjustment Board accepted 300 special magistrate recommendations, ratified magistrate invoices, certified Department of Revenue forms reflecting a $7.24 million change in taxable value and a $997,547.60 tax shift, and approved a two-year renewal of its attorney contract.
The Hernando County Value Adjustment Board met at 10 a.m. March 14 and accepted the recommendations of its special magistrates, certified required Department of Revenue forms summarizing the board’s actions, ratified magistrate invoice payments and approved a two-year renewal of its board counsel contract.
Board counsel Ali Cosby opened the meeting by advising for the record that she had reviewed the affidavit of publication and that “pursuant to Florida statute 194.015, we do have quorum in the room today.” Cosby later told the board she had reviewed every one of the magistrates’ recommended decisions placed before the board and found them “sufficient and compliant with law.” The board voted to accept the special magistrate recommendations unanimously.
The board’s certification of Department of Revenue forms (DR-488 series) showed the taxable value change resulting from VAB action for real property totaled $7,236,105. The board’s report also said the tangible personal property petitions produced a net change of zero in taxable value. The property-appraiser-assisted notice of tax impact translated the value changes into a total tax shift of $997,547.60 attributable to VAB action for the year.
Financial and caseload figures presented to the board: 397 petitions were filed in 2024, of which 300 were heard this session (compared with 366 filed and 256 heard the prior year). Staff reported 76 petitions withdrawn and 15 settled. The board was presented with special magistrate invoice totals; staff said last year’s magistrate charges were $48,835 and this year’s charges were $49,179 (described in the meeting as an increase “only $300 or $400” to reach $49,179). The board voted unanimously to ratify magistrate invoice payments.
On attorney renewal, counsel told the board her current contract is a two-year term and would expire at the end of the session; she asked the board to ratify renewal so a new contract could be executed during the organizational meeting. Board members expressed support for continuity and, noting past positive experience with counsel, moved and seconded a renewal to extend the contract from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. The motion passed unanimously.
Other compliance and administrative items the board acknowledged included: reporting that seven good-cause late-file petitions were received this year with one granted and six denied; confirmation that all special magistrates completed Department of Revenue training as required; and an updated compliance checklist including municipal-notice procedures under Florida statute 193.116. The board approved the DR-488 certifications and the notice of tax impact by unanimous vote.
Board members also discussed tentative meeting dates for 2025–2026, with the organizational meeting tentatively set for July 24, 2025, and a final meeting on March 20, 2026. Staff said meeting exhibits for that item were not included in the packet but the dates were printed on the agenda.
The meeting record shows no public speakers during the public-comment period. The board adjourned at approximately 10:21 a.m.
