Shovels Hit Dirt at Site of Future Tax Collector Building

SPRING HILL – On Thursday, September 12, the Hernando County Government and Hernando County Tax Collector’s Office broke ground on a new Tax Collector’s building. An undertaking 20 years in the making, shovels finally hit dirt that morning at the construction site behind the Health Department located at 7551 Forest Oaks Boulevard.

The Tax Collector’s Office at the Government Center on Forest Oaks is set to remain open to the public throughout the construction of the new building. With an anticipated completion window of fall 2025, the project promises to provide the county’s citizens with more adequate resources while they apply for licenses and other such tasks.

“After many years of expressed need for our community, we are so excited to see a new building in Spring Hill coming to reality,” said Sally Daniel, Hernando County Tax Collector. “We are grateful to our County Administrator, Jeff Rogers, and the Board of County Commissioners for their support and vision to meet the needs of Hernando County and our future. It is an honor to be part of the solution. This move signifies our commitment to growth and dedication to serving the citizens’ needs of Hernando County.”

Much of the land was secured through the county’s foresight by retaining a piece of property that was once an old utilities department/wastewater plant. The remaining real estate for the $15 million dollar project was acquired through a collaboration with NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) Hernando. In the county’s agreement with the mental health organization, they will be able to build the tax collector’s office as well as future-proof the infrastructure for the construction of a future NAMI building on the land.

The local government office processes taxes, renewals, motor vehicle titles, and various licenses. They currently service as many as 1,000 people a day and space is extremely limited. Despite running what County Administrator Jeff Rogers calls an efficient operation, the current building is confining, especially when hordes of people show up at the same time. This becomes a problem when visitor overflow spills outdoors and they must wait out in the summer heat.

“Those of you that have ever been in the office such as Jeff [Rogers], he can tell you, they stand out in that ‘U’ all the way around both sides of the building in the rain and the heat,” said Daniel. “We have gotten water for them. We’ve put fans out. We’ve had them pass out; we’ve had ambulances. This is just such a need and we’re so thankful. I just can’t even say enough. It almost brings me to tears to see this happening finally.”

Administrator Rogers, who moved to the county in 2005, noted the current accommodations were “a fine experience” at the time, but he seconded Ms. Daniel’s comments on the overcrowding. He is happy to help address complaints faced by an office that ultimately serves as “one of the first places you go” when dealing with local government after turning 18, he said.

A great deal of time and planning goes into a project before a single brick is laid. Construction Manager Erik van de Boogaard “safeguards every dollar” that is allocated for such projects and “makes sure that our contractors build it to specifications” and citizens get the most bang for their buck, noted Rogers. Tina Faulkingham, CFCA Chief Deputy of Administration and Projects for the Hernando County Tax Collector’s Office, “has worked so hard year after year putting together pictures and things to put in front of everybody to see the need and it’s finally coming through,” Daniel added.

With the recent local elections, Amy Blackburn was elected to take over for Ms. Daniel as Tax Collector following an unopposed run for the office. This building will be paid for by future taxpayers over the next ten years, which includes the high volume of newcomers that are streaming into Hernando year after year. Assuming everything goes according to plan, the county will host a ribbon cutting and grand opening for the new Tax Collector’s building next fall.