| ELECT LISA CULLEN for TAX COLLECTOR "Vote to Put 22 Years Experience to Work for YOU" |
| Plan of Action As the only candidate with experience working within a Tax Collector’s Office, I have knowledge of how the office actually operates and the laws governing the office. The Tax Collector of Brevard County is charged with collecting a majority of the funds that allow various taxing authorities to fund their budgets and operations. Because of the tax base in Brevard County, the Tax Collector’s Office has excess funds (fees they are paid to collect taxes) to return to the county each year. As Tax Collector, I can collect taxes more efficiently and yet provide increased services to our citizens. In my first months in office I intend to address the following: • I will reorganize the workflow of the office to better utilize existing personnel to provide a higher level of service to the citizens of Brevard County. I will strive to make Brevard County the easiest place in Florida to pay your taxes or utilize Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle Services. • The Tax Collector’s Office charges a Credit Card Convenience fee to process Credit/Debit card transactions, all the money collected from these fees goes directly to the vendor and the office can not absorb this cost. I will either look for a new vendor offering lower convenience fees or renegotiate with the current vendor to reduce this cost for our citizens using a Credit/Debit card to pay for their transactions. • I will propose a reasonable prudent budget each year. The budget approved by the Department of Revenue will be the one my office will abide by. Requests for proposals will be made for major purchases and reasonable bids from Brevard County vendors will be given priority. I intend to be a “Bean Counter” and if possible spend our tax dollars locally. This will benefit our local businesses and economy. • The possibility of offering limited driver license services in the Tax Collector’s Office must be explored. Such services are provided in other counties and allow the citizens the convenience of completing address changes and renewals in one location. • The legal battle Mr. Northcutt has been waging with the union voted in by the staff has wasted enough time and taxpayer dollars. The employees had the right to choose union representation. I will partner with the PEA to address the employees’ workplace concerns. The office needs to move forward. • All taxes both current and delinquent will be collected in a fair and consistent manner. All excess fees will be returned to the County as is the current practice and required by the laws which govern this office. I enjoyed serving the citizens of Brevard County for almost 20 years in the Tax Collector’s Office. I sincerely believe that I can perform the duties of Tax Collector in a fiscally responsible manner while increasing the level of service to the taxpayers of Brevard County. |