Posts by: ScottB

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New Condo Inspection Bill Webinar

Everyone has questions about the new condo bill that will impact all condominiums and condo in Florida.  The members of the Galt Mile Community Association will be directly impacted in two ways:  reserve studies and requirements, and additional safety inspections.

Because the bill was passed by the Florida Legislature in two days during special session, there are many unanswered questions about how it applies and what condos really have to do to meet these requirements. In an attempt to help clarify these issues (as we know them today), a webinar presentation covered many topics and answered several questions, but also indicated there are many unanswered questions.

The webinar, entitled, “Part Two: New Condo Inspection Bill” had presentations from three leading experts in the field:

Michael Bender, Kaye Bender Rembaum law firm;

Evan Bradley, Campbell Property Management; and

Scott Harvey-Lewis, Building Mavens.

Click here to view the webinar and learn more about this important piece of legislation.  On this link, you can separately view the slides from the PowerPoint presentation. 

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Special Dedication to Pio Ieraci

August 5, 2022 was a special day, because we finally realized the dream of recognizing our friend-late community leader Pio Ieraci by designating a section of A1A in his name. Pio was active in the Galt Mile for many years, serving as its president for the past 20 years. It is fitting this section is called the “Pio Iearci Memorial Drive.”

Thank you to State Representative Chip LaMarca, who introduced and heralded the bill through the state legislature creating this designation, Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Heather Thompson Moraitis, Broward County Vice-Mayor Lamar P. Fisher and Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis for your help with the City of Fort Lauderdale resolution and to the Florida Department of Transportation for all of their assistance with the process of implementing the legislation into this designation.

Also thanks Fred Nesbitt for stepping into the impossible shoes of Pio and being the leader of the Galt Mile Community Association. Thanks to Chip’ legislative aide Sammy Verner for working with FDOT from the legislative process to the installation.

Also in attendance at the unveiling ceremony were Pio’s family:  Lisa Ieraci, Alessia Ieraci and Daniel Ieraci, as well as many members of the Galt Mile community.

In so many ways, Pio was the Galt Mile – and the Galt Mile was Pio.

 

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New Condo Bill Adopted

The state legislature passed and the governor signed a new condo/coop law this spring, SB4D.

What is amazing is the state legislature passed and the governor signed the bill in three days.  They have implemented a solution for a problem (Champlain Towers collapse) that they don’t know the cause.  One sponsor stated that this new law would ensure there will never be another Champlain Towers incident.  That’s a remarkable statement to make – based on “best guesses.”  On another issue, the legislature provided no relief for condos/coops facing steep increases in insurance coverage.

Attached is a 4-page summary (of an 89-page bill) describing the key elements and dates in the new law as it applies to the members of the Galt Mile community.  The key dates in the new law are highlighted:  January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2024.

Please read the disclaimer at the top of the summary.  Interpretations and implementation information are being generated almost daily on this new law. You should consult your legal counsel regarding the new compliance provisions in the law.

Click here to read the Galt Mile prepared summary of new condo bill.

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Commissioner Moraitis’ August Newsletter

Commissioner Heather Moraitis’ latest newsletter focuses on the commissioning of the USS Fort Lauderdale, which arrived in Port Everglades and was commissioned on Saturday, July 30th! The commissioning of USS Fort Lauderdale is the result of many years of coordination and I would like to thank everyone who supported this mission, especially the commissioning committee, led by Chair Patricia Du Mont and Fundraising Chair Jack Seiler, and the ship’s crew.

As an amphibious transport dock ship, USS Fort Lauderdale, whose motto is “Together We Fight” is a warship designed to embark, transport and land elements of a landing force for a variety of expeditionary warfare missions. The 684-foot ship, costing $1.8 billion weighs more than 7000 tons and can transport 800 Marines and landing craft.

Click here to read Heather Moraitis’ latest newsletter.

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Questions About Your 2022 Property Assessment or Exemptions?

Property Appraiser Marty Kiar’s office mailed over 776,000 TRIM (proposed tax) Notices to Broward County property owners in August. The 2022 Just/Market Values are based on the market data from 2021 as Florida Statutes require our office use January 1 as the date of assessment each year. The TRIM Notice you received shows your 2022 market value, any tax-saving exemptions you are receiving, and the proposed tax amounts as set by the various taxing authorities listed on the notice. It is important to remember the Property Appraiser’s Office does not set or collect taxes.

If you believe you are entitled to a Homestead Exemption or any other exemption not shown on your TRIM Notice, you may still late file for any 2022 exemption until September 19, 2022. For a list of all the available tax-saving exemptions and to apply for these exemptions online, please visit our website at https://web.bcpa.net/bcpaclient/#/Homestead or call us at 954-357-6830.

Click here to read Marty Kiar’s full newsletter.

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Vice Mayor Lamar Fisher’s July Newsletter Shares Much Information

Vice Mayor Fisher discusses several issues in his July Newsletter.  The first issue is making sure we are doing everything we can to assist the homelessness crisis in our community. I know many residents have contacted me expressing their concerns and it is one of the top issues that is discussed when I attend community meetings. Broward County’s Homeless Continuum of Care (CoC) manages $31 million County, State and Federal funding that is provided to 21 CoC partners that deliver 64 programs with services to approximately 9,178 people experiencing homelessness annually.

He also discusses new initiatives being undertaken by the county.  The county is working toward providing individuals with SafeLink phones with access to the BigBurgh App (currently applied in the City of Pittsburgh) that provides real time services available with GIS overlay on how to access services. Other initiatives include, engaging every school in Broward County in the Homeless Management Information System, having a dedicated street outreach and medical/clinical team at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International airport, and increasing the dedicated direct service team within the Homeless Initiative Partnership to address critical situations on major corridors and expedite housing placement.

To read the full July newsletter, click here.

 

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Late File for Portability from Marty Kiar

Broward County Property Appraiser Marty Kiar informs us in his latest newsletter that portability allows eligible property owners to pay less property taxes at their newly homesteaded property by transferring all or a portion of the Save Our Homes (SOH) savings from one Florida property to another Florida property within the strict time frame allowed by law. If you qualify, Portability will reduce your property’s assessed value, resulting in tax savings this year and possible tax savings in future years depending upon the market value of your home each year.

Read more about property portability in Marty’s newsletter by clicking here.

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2022 TRIM Notices

The Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office mails the TRIM (proposed tax) Notices in August of each year. This is NOT a tax bill but a notice showing your property’s 2022 just value, exemptions and proposed taxes as set by the various taxing authorities. The TRIM Notice is your opportunity to review your 2022 just value and ensure you are receiving all the tax-saving exemptions you are eligible for.

Florida Statutes require our office use January 1 as the date of assessment each year.  The 2022 just values are based on the market data from 2021. Our office must consider changes in market conditions – up or down – when developing the just/market values each year. The 2022 just values will reflect the significant changes in the 2021 market data. As the real estate market trends upward, most property owners will see increases in their just/market values.

Property Appraiser Marty Kiar’s newsletter also answers key questions about the Homestead Exemption.  Click here to read the full newsletter.