Taxpayers Can Save $230,000 By Skyway DMV Closing: County

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The Skyway location of the Pinellas County Tax Collector's Office is scheduled to officially close in January, a news release said.

Pinellas County Tax Collector Charles Thomas said the Skyway office is up for renewal and as that location serves significantly fewer customers than other tax collector locations, it would make sense both financially and operationally to consolidate the location with the South County office.

Taxpayers will save about $230,000 annually by doing away with rent, utilities and other operational expenses required for everyday use at the Skyway location, officials said.

Each year, all unused tax collector funds are returned to the Board of County Commissioners and the various taxing authorities, greatly benefiting the entire county, including the city of St. Petersburg, according to Thomas.

"This decision was not made lightly, and many factors came into play," Thomas said. "Our main priority is always to provide excellent service to our community. This move will not only save the taxpayers' money, it will also allow us to enhance the level of service we offer by having the best resources available, in one location, to serve the residents at the southern end of the county."

The Skyway office will close at 5 p.m. Tues., Jan. 5. Customers are encouraged to always check the website, taxcollect.com, as it offers numerous online services as well as information from frequently asked questions and operational updates.