Tax Collector's Office draws non-resident customers, unexpected revenue bump

Floridians whose tax collector services are shut down due to COVID-19 have been coming to Flagler County.

By Jonathan Simmons
| 9:00 a.m. November 6, 2020

Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston speaks to a resident at the Government Services Building in Bunnell. File photo by Brian McMillan

Palm Coast Observer
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Flagler County has received approximately $400,000 in excess of its revenue projections from the Tax Collector's Office this year as the office attracts out-of-county customers whose own tax collection offices have been limited or closed due to COVID-19, County Administrator Jerry Cameron said during a Nov. 2 County Commission meeting.

Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston "has consistently provided a level of efficiency and public service that is causing people to come from counties all over," Cameron said. "And with the closedown of South Florida during COVID, she was able to accommodate for license tags, for concealed weapons permits, a vast number of people that were unable to get the those services in other places, and she was able to provide those here."

He added, "We are indeed fortunate to have someone of her caliber as our tax collector. She not only has those skills herself, she has infused her department with those. I’ve had the experience to deal with a number of her employees in the leadership academy, and I can only tell you that it’s first rate, and the value system that they work off of is second to none."