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RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE MIAMI TIMES AS THE NEWSPAPER FOR PUBLICATION OF DELINQUENT TAX LISTS IN 2012 FOR 2011 TAX YEAR IN ACCORDANCE WITH FLORIDA STATUTES �197.402, AND FOR THE PUBLICATION OF DELINQUENT IMPROVEMENT LIENS AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENT LIENS PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-14(8) OF THE CODE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA AND FLORIDA STATUTES �197.363 AND �197.3632 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $83,648

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WHEREAS, this Board desires to accomplish the purposes outlined in the accompanying memorandum, a copy of which is incorporated herein by reference; and
WHEREAS, Florida Statutes (FS) �197.402, requires that the Tax Collector advertise the delinquent tangible personal property taxes once within forty-five (45) days of the taxes becoming delinquent and that the Tax Collector advertise delinquent real estate taxes once each week for three (3) weeks; and
WHEREAS, Section 18-14 of the Miami-Dade County Code and FS �197.363 and FS �197.3632 provide that delinquent improvement liens and special assessments shall be advertised in the same manner as delinquent real estate taxes; and
WHEREAS, FS �197.402 and Rule 12D-13.036, Florida Administrative Code, require the Board of County Commissioners to select a newspaper in which to advertise delinquent property taxes; and
WHEREAS, The Miami Times was the lowest bidder to respond to our invitation to advertise the year 2012 lists of the 2011 delinquent taxes and special assessments,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board approves and designates The Miami Times as the newspaper for the publication of delinquent tax lists for the tax year 2011 in accordance with the provisions of FS �197.402 and for the publication of delinquent improvement liens and special assessment liens pursuant to Section 18-14(8) of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida and FS �197.363 and FS �197.3632, in an amount not to exceed $83,648 and such publications to be under the direction and supervision of the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector.

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Date:

To: Honorable Chairman Joe A. Martinez
and Members, Board of County Commissioners

From: Carlos A. Gimenez
Mayor

Subject: Selection of Newspaper for Publication of Delinquent Tangible Personal and
Real Property Tax Lists

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Board of County Commissioners (Board) approve The Miami Times as the newspaper for publication of the 2012 lists of delinquent tangible personal property taxes, delinquent real property taxes, and non-ad valorem assessments such as improvement liens and special assessments pertaining to the 2011 tax roll in accordance with �197.402, Florida Statutes and Rule 12D-13.036, Florida Administrative Code.

Scope
This action is countywide in scope.

Fiscal Impact/Funding Source
Approval of this resolution does not create a fiscal impact to the County. The cost of the advertising delinquent property taxes is paid by the Tax Collector at the time of advertising and is recovered from the taxpayers at the time taxes are paid or from investors when tax certificates are sold.

Track Record/Monitor
The Tax Collector Division is mandated by Florida Statutes to advertise the names and amounts of delinquent property taxes in a newspaper of general circulation within 45 days of April 1st, and for the tax certificate sale once each week for three weeks prior to the tax certificate sale.

MANAGER'S BACKGROUND
Background
The rate of real and tangible personal property tax collection directly impacts the ability of local taxing authorities such as municipalities, the School Board and Miami-Dade County to deliver services. The collection of the 2011 real property and tangible personal property taxes began on November 1, 2011 and taxes become delinquent on April 1, 2012.

Florida Statutes require the Tax Collector to issue warrants and to sell tax certificates to ensure the continued funding of essential governmental services provided by the various government taxing authorities authorized to levy and impose taxes. If real property taxes are not paid by May 31, 2012, tax certificates will be sold starting June 1, 2012. Tax warrants may be issued for tangible personal property at any time after delinquency on April 1, 2012.

Florida Statute Sub-�197.402(3) provides that the list of delinquent tangible personal property tax payers and the amount due by each, shall be published once within 45 days of the taxes becoming delinquent on April 1, 2012 and that the list for delinquent real property taxes shall be advertised once each week for three consecutive weeks prior to the Tax Certificate Sale that shall be held on or before June 1, 2012. In addition, �18-14 of the Miami-Dade County Code, Florida Statute �197.363 and FS �197.3632 require the advertisement of delinquent non-ad valorem assessments and improvement liens collected on the tax bill in the same manner as delinquent real property taxes.
Florida Statute �50.011 requires the delinquent tangible personal property tax and delinquent real property tax advertisements be placed in a newspaper that is published at least once a week, contains at least 25 percent of its words in English, is available for sale to the public and is generally available to the public for the publication of official or other notices. The following newspapers that meet these statutory requirements were identified and invited to bid: Miami Today, The Miami Herald, Miami Daily Business Review, The Miami Times, and the New Times.

The Miami Daily Business Review, The Miami Times and Miami Today responded. The lowest responsive bidder for the project was The Miami Times whose bid is as follows:

Delinquent tangible personal property taxes $ 16,729.60
Delinquent real property taxes 66,918.40
TOTAL $ 83,648.00

The Miami Times has experience in legal advertising having published the County�s delinquent tangible personal property tax and delinquent real property tax advertisements in 2010. The Miami Times also has data processing capabilities that provide efficient and reliable interfaces with the County data processing systems thereby enabling last-minute additions and deletions to the advertisement. These are key factors, coupled with the The Miami Times� experience, to avoid delays that could result in the invalidation of the annual Tax Certificate Sale, which generated almost $300 million of revenues for the local taxing authorities last year. The cost of advertising delinquent real property taxes is recovered at the time the tax certificates are sold and are ultimately borne by the delinquent taxpayers. Having previously published the voluminous delinquent tax listings (more than 300 newspaper pages), The Miami Times has demonstrated its ability to successfully complete this undertaking.

In addition to required legal advertising the Tax Collector�s Office will continue its public awareness efforts by placing courtesy ads in The Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald, Diario De Las Americas, and Haiti En Marche. The Tax Collector�s Office also takes full advantage of the County�s Periodical Program in an attempt to capture further segments of the community that do not read the more circulated publications listed above. These courtesy advertisements are placed in March and April prior to the legally required advertisement in The Miami Times. The estimated cost of the additional courtesy advertising will cost the Tax Collector�s Office approximately $25,000 based on last year�s expense.

The Community Information and Outreach Department�s 311 Answer Center will be alerted to the Tax Collector�s public awareness efforts and will be ready for the increased call volume. Answer Center staff will be receiving refresher training on the delinquent tax process and Tax Collector staff will be onsite to provide technical support. The County�s web portal as well as the Tax Collector�s Webpage will be updated to provide the most up to date information including the published list of delinquent properties.

Potential investors will be directed to the Tax Collector�s auction website and will also have a direct buyers line and e-mail address to answer technical questions. In addition, Tax Collector representatives regularly speak at community and homeowner meetings as requested regarding the taxing process.


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Deputy Mayor