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Hillsborough Election Chief's County Taxes Overdue Again

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By MIKE SALINERO

The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 10, 2008

TAMPA - For the fourth year in a row, Hillsborough County Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson is late paying county property taxes.

Johnson missed an April 1 deadline to pay $1,682 in 2007 taxes he owes on 20 acres and a small house on Thonotosassa Road near Plant City, according to records at the county tax collector's office. He owns the property through a limited liability corporation he created, Fort Bully LLC.

For the three years prior to that, Johnson either was late or failed to pay property taxes on a house and land he owned at 2815 Cherry Tree Lane in Plant City.

Johnson sold the Cherry Tree Lane property in 2007 and paid $1,122 in past-due taxes plus interest and penalties for the taxes he didn't pay in 2005 and 2006. However, he still owes $2,052 on the property because the county made a calculation error, according to Charlotte Luke, director of tax and license services at the tax collector's office.

Luke said her office notified Johnson in September that he still owed the back taxes, but he did not reply.

"We sent him another letter April 4 those taxes are still due, that he needs to contact us," Luke said.

Johnson, whose annual salary as elections supervisor is more than $130,000, did not return a phone call Wednesday evening seeking comment.

If Johnson does not pay his 2007 tax bill on the Thonotosassa Road property by May 31, a tax certificate on the property can be sold to an investor who can foreclose after two years. He will be assessed a 3 percent late penalty while the tax is overdue plus a $3 advertising fee.

Records show Johnson has two mortgages on the property totaling $920,000.

Last month, Johnson applied for an agricultural, or "greenbelt," exemption on the Thonotosassa Road property that could save him $12,000 on his tax bill. Johnson said he deserves the exemption because he is letting a rancher graze 12 cows on the land. The Hillsborough County Property Appraiser's Office has yet to rule on Johnson's application.

"I followed all the appropriate steps for greenbelt classification," Johnson said at the time. "I want to be treated just like any other taxpayer would be treated, no more, no less."

Johnson also owns a condominium in Sarasota with an assessed value of $450,000.

Johnson, a 55-year-old Republican, is running for re-election this year. Former County Commissioner Phyllis Busansky, a Democrat, is challenging Johnson in the race.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303 or msalinero@tampatrib.com

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