Beach Taxation Litigation

Below, we reprint Gary Smith's message of Wednesday, Nov. 10 as it appears on the PNJ message board for beach residents)

Last night at its regularly scheduled monthly membership meeting, the Pensacola Beach Residents and Leaseholders Association discussed taxation on the beach. Here are the highlights:

The deadline to file protest suits is December 18. The Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce, one large developer as well as at least one private leaseholder are planning individual suits. At this time, no class action suits are planned. The estimated cost of litigation is in the range of $100,000 to 250,000, based on the cost of the Navarre suit. The Navarre suit will probably be decided at the 1st DCA in the Spring/Summer of ’05.

ANYONE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN A MULTI-PLAINTIFF SUIT SHOULD ATTEND A MEETING SCHEDULED BY THE PENSACOLA BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT BAMBOO WILLIE’S ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13 AT 12 NOON.

There will be lawyers from Clark, Partington, et al (the Navarre suit) and Shell, Fleming, et al (the 1980s suit) to answer questions.

It is time to organize a litigation group. Using the numbers set out above, this will probably cost in the neighborhood of $1000 per taxable property; less if more people participate. It is now time to put up or shut up.

Gary E. Smith
President
PBRLA