PORT ST. LUCIE — More than 600 teenagers and young adults frequent Invincibles Paintball park each month.

But the park, which opened in August and operates on 25 acres of city-owned land near Crosstown Parkway and Interstate 95, is in jeopardy of being shut down, said City Manager Don Cooper in a memo to the City Council.

The park’s owner, Vincent Cloe, built improper structures without building permits and inspections, encroached on non-leased city property, failed to file a complete site plan with the city among other issues, Cooper said.
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ST. LUCIE COUNTY – Impact fees will go up by about $3,000 on new homes after County Commissioners opted early Wednesday to follow staff recommendations on adjusting the fees.

The County Commission voted 4-1 with Commissioner Chris Craft voting against.

Impact fees are taxes on new homes and buildings designed to pay for schools, parks, libraries and other things needed for such developments. The county followed the guidelines of consultant James Nicholas, who analyzed the county’s impact fees. Nicholas said he did not see impact fees changing the amount of building and home buying in the county, noting there were impact fees during the boom.
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PORT ST. LUCIE Despite final pleas from residents to keep taxes flat, the City Council Monday night voted 4-1 to an 11 percent increase in the property tax rate.

The new tax rate, $4.68 per $1,000 of taxable value, will go into effect Oct. 1.

Vice Mayor Jack Kelly was the lone vote against the increase. Also, the council unanimously agreed to approve a 2009-2010 $431 million budget.

“This 11 percent increase is a compromise,” City Councilwoman Michelle Berger told residents in a packed chambers, noting that she and Kelly tried for a zero increase but could not get support from other council members.
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ST. LUCIE COUNTY — More than $40 million in property taxes went unpaid on more than 11,000 county parcels this year.

Though the number of parcels increased from 11,272 in 2007 to 11,786 in 2008, the total dollars owed to the county in delinquencies went down to $40,382,130 from $45,715,977 in 2007. Though the total number are down, the county had only 4,230 parcels owing $7,879,193 in 2004.

Foreclosures, unemployment and declining real estate value probably affected the numbers, St. Lucie County Assistant Tax Collector Larry Clancy said. Some people simply forgot or thought they had paid. (more…)

STUART — Famed attorney Willie Gary was among thousands of Martin County land owners who failed to pay their property taxes on time.

“Right now, we’re just kind of sitting on the dollars,” Gary said about his $239,196 in unpaid taxes on five properties he owns with his wife, Gloria, including his law office in downtown Stuart.

“I’m going to pay my taxes, but strategy wise, and specifically with the economy being the way it is, the money that you do have, you’ve just got to hold onto it right now,” Gary said. “Timing could be everything. Timing could save money. Timing could be a good investment.” (more…)