The Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce welcomed two new constitutional officers from Miami-Dade County: Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez and Property Appraiser Tomas Regalado to its November luncheon.
Regalado described the responsibilities of his office as well as what staff has been doing for the community.
One of his big initiatives has been to help veterans by reducing or eliminating property taxes.
“We’re proposing several things in Tallahassee … to extend the [tax] exemption for veterans from $5,000 to $10,000 or $15,000,” Regalado said.
Another goal is for veterans is for those who are 80% or more disabled to not have to pay any property tax bills in the future.
Regalado said more than 20 veterans work in his office who had to use paid time off or sick time to be treated at the Miami VA Healthcare System.
“That is no longer the case,” Regalado said. “In the property appraiser’s office, every veteran who has to go to the veteran’s hospital no longer needs to use [their] sick time and can go freely.”
Regalado said with the property appraiser as a constitutional office that is separate from county government, he can better serve residents.
Fernandez spoke about modernizing the tax collector’s office, dealing with people selling spots in lines for service and long wait times for those seeking to renew licenses and tags.
“In our 10 offices, it is now 20 minutes [to see a representative],” Fernandez said.
Fernandez’s office has created a unique queue system.
It requires users to create an account for an appointment so that the appointment won’t be sold.
“We passed an ordinance in Miami-Dade County … if people sell appointments, they can be fined $500 or 60 days in prison,” Fernandez said.
The office also added kiosks to several Publix Supermarkets so residents can update their information without having to travel to a tax appraiser office.
Along with about 60 business owners in the audience were Miami Lakes Mayor Josh Dieguez and town council members Juan Carlos Fernandez, Ray Garcia, Steven Herzberg and Alex Sanchez and Town Manager Edward Pidermann.
The next chamber luncheon will be held on Dec. 10, when guests are asked to bring a toy for the toy drive.
Miami Lakes Mayor Josh Dieguez will be the guest speaker.
Networking begins at 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch at noon. To attend, register at MiamiLakesChamber.com. The luncheons are open to members and non-members.