TAX NEWS - June 2010

Florida Tax: Columbia County tax collector to provide driver license services

On Monday morning, Columbia County will become the 46th county where the tax collector provides most driver license services.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle has announced that beginning Monday, the Columbia County Tax Collector will operate the local driver license office in the same location - 1350 U.S. 90 W. in Lake City - where the state has operated the office for many years.

The state began turning over responsibility for drivers license testing and other duties to tax collectors several years ago as part of a cost-cutting effort. Department spokeswoman Ann Howard said that "99 percent of the time, the state driver license examiners are hired by the county taking over the duties."

Tax collectors and their staffs are trained to handle many of the duties formerly assigned to the state employees such as driving tests and issuing drivers license and identification cards.

Some duties have been retained by the state, however, such as the issuance of hardship driver licenses which are handled in centralized offices serving several counties. For example, someone whose license has been suspended but needs a license to work could apply for a hardship license at the state office at 2815 N.W. 13th Street in Gainesville.

Some counties, including Gilchrist County, have no drivers license services so residents must travel to neighboring counties for take tests or renew their licenses.

When a county tax collector assumes responsibility for routine drivers license transactions, state law allows a $6.25 fee to be added as a service fee for each transaction.