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Pinellas County to fight ruling that says it has to pay Pasco property taxes

 
Pasco  County wants Pinellas County to pay property taxes on the Cross Bar Ranch property [Times (2013)]
Pasco County wants Pinellas County to pay property taxes on the Cross Bar Ranch property [Times (2013)]
Published May 8, 2019

CLEARWATER — Pinellas County plans to fight a recent court ruling that said the county is not exempt from property taxes in Pasco County.

That's according to Pinellas County Attorney Jewel White, who made the announcement at Tuesday's County Commission meeting.

Pinellas County is hoping that the 2nd District Court of Appeal will agree to rehear the case, which decided whether the county will have to pay about $194,000 in back property taxes. Pinellas argues it is immune from taxation on 12,400 acres in northern Pasco, the Cross Bar and Al Bar ranches.

On May 3, the state appeals court reversed a decision by the Pasco Circuit Court..

Read more: Pasco to Pinellas: Pay up on property taxes, everybody else does.

"We'll be looking to have a rehearing," White said. "We do think we have very good grounds to move forward and ask for a rehearing."

Pasco Property Appraiser Gary Joiner said the request for a rehearing was not unexpected and his office's legal counsel had been preparing for it.

"We're not going to fold over and let 'em win. I commend them for not giving in, but we're not either,'' Joiner said.

Contact Kirby Wilson at kwilson@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8793. Follow @kirbywtweets. Contact C.T. Bowen at ctbowen@tampabay.com or (813) 435-7306. Follow @CTBowen2.