Tax Collector Returns More Than $10.6 Million in Unspent Fees

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL - This week, Pinellas County Tax Collector Charles W. Thomas announced the return of more than $10.6 million in unspent revenue to the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners and local taxing authorities.

His office has returned nearly $55.4 million in unspent revenue since Thomas took office in 2017.

"Here at our organization, financial accuracy and precision are top priorities. In fact, being good stewards of public funds is part of our organizational mission," Thomas said. "Our team works diligently to be fiscally responsible so that we can return as much money as possible to our community to help Pinellas County remain a leading destination to live and visit."

The Pinellas County Tax Collector's Office is fee-based, which means its organizational operations are funded through the fees it collects. These fees, like the $6.25 charged for each driver license transaction, are regulated by Florida state law. After each fiscal year, it is the tax collector's responsibility to distribute all unused fees to local taxing authorities.

Most of this money goes to Pinellas County's General Fund, the main operating fund of the county, which provides services like maintaining local roads and parks and funding schools and ambulances.

Of the $10.6 million returned by the tax collector's office, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners received $9.5 million, and the remaining $1.1 million was split among other taxing authorities.