The Florida Legislature has recently made changes to legislation regarding Agricultural classification of property. Effective January 1, 2003, Florida Statute 193.461(3) requires the owner of land that has received agricultural classification to certify to the Property Appraiser that neither the ownership nor use of the property has changed.

This new statute requires documentation of agricultural classification be brought into this office each year in order to receive your agricultural exemption. This means the elimination of the automatic renewal process.

To insure that all affected property owners are informed of these changes, Greg Brown, Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser, will be sending all current agricultural landowners renewal cards prior to January 15th. THOSE RENEWAL CARDS MUST BE RETURNED TO THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S OFFICE FOR CONTINUED AGRICULTURAL CLASSIFICATION. The Property Appraiser's office is diligently working to make this process as convenient as possible

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Property Appraiser's office at 983-1880.

Greg Brown, Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser, would like to announce the increase in the ad valorem tax exemption for qualifying ex-service members from $500 to $5000. In order to receive this exemption. a veteran must have a service-connected disability of 10 to 90 percent, live in Florida and own homestead property. The increase applies only to the homestead property.

To insure that all eligible Veteran's receive this exemption, the Property Appraiser's office will be sending letters to all current Disability Exemption recipients asking for documentation from the VA or Federal government stating that the disability is indeed "service-connected." All Veterans currently receiving the $500 Veteran's Exemption will also receive a letter to inform them of this change and asking them to call our office to confirm their exemption is correct.

The legislation takes effect January 1, 2003. Applications for property tax exemptions are due by March 1 of every year. Disabled veterans may apply for the additional exemption at the Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser's office at 6495 Caroline Street, Suite K in Milton, or visit them at the South Santa Rosa County Service Center, 5819 Gulf Breeze Parkway in Gulf Breeze.