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Media Central
General:
Pin-Mar Cancels Car Show at Heritage Village - watch video 
The Pin-MAR Antique Car Club, host of the 23rd Annual Antique Car Show scheduled for Saturday, April 23, at Heritage Village, announced that it must withdraw its participation in this popular program this year, thus cancelling this annual event. Pin-MAR was instrumental in providing more than 100 antique autos for display throughout Heritage Village for the car show.
Visitors are reminded that there are many other ways to enjoy the day at Heritage Village.
Historical guided walking tours are conducted Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m. The cost of the tour is $2 per person. Groups of 20 or more should make advanced reservations by calling (727) 582-2125.
Heritage Village, operated by Pinellas County government, is a 21-acre living history museum located in the heart of Pinellas County at 11909 125th St. N. in Largo. It is adjacent to Pinellas County Extension and the Florida Botanical Gardens. Heritage Village is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. It is closed on county holidays.
Heritage Village brings to life more than 150 years of rich and colorful local history in a picturesque, cool landscape of palmettos and pine trees. More than 25 buildings and structures are restored, authentic and full of fun. A new, self-guided EnterAction adventure welcomes families and reveals secrets of the past.
For more information, visit Heritage Village or call (727) 582-2123.
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Pinellas County Offices Closed Monday
Pinellas County government offices will close to the public Monday, Feb. 15, for In-Service Day. The day will be used for department training and projects. Regular business will resume on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
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New $8,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit - watch video
 Are you in a catch-22? Ready to buy right now, but need the $8,000 tax credit to meet your cash requirement? Can’t get the $8,000 until after you buy? There must be a way out of this, right? There is! Pinellas County can help first-time homebuyers take advantage of the $8,000 First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. You might be able to get your cash now and repay it when you get your refund. Call now, to find if you quality.
If you are a veteran or have not owned a home in the past three years, Pinellas County may be able to help. You can have a maximum household income of $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for joint filers. Loans carry 0% interest and repayment is due 10 days after you receive your refund. In some cases, repayment may be extended for up to 18 months. According to Anthony M. Jones, Director, Pinellas County Community Development, “This program will be a great help to homebuyers who want to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit and need assistance in advance.”
Properties located inside the city limits of Clearwater, Largo, St. Petersburg and Belleair Shore are not eligible for these programs. Interested homebuyers in those communities should contact those cities directly for information programs they offer.
For additional information, contact Pinellas County Community Development at 727-464-8210.
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Radio Show Promotes Financial Fitness
Several programs offered at Pinellas County Extension are designed to teach participants how to improve their financial condition and save money. Learn more about the financial fitness programs Thursday, Feb. 4,on There’s No Place Like Home, the radio show sponsored by the Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County. The show can also be watched on Pinellas County Connection Television, viewed on-line at Housing Finance Authority.
This month’s guest is Karen Saley, Extension money management specialist – Pinellas County Extension. The program, which features different issues each month, is sponsored by the Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County. It airs the first Thursday of each month from 10 to 10:30 a.m. on WRXB 1590 AM.
Questions or comments about the show may be e-mailed to HousingFinanceAuthority@pinellascounty.org.
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Charter Review Commission Sets Meeting Schedule
In its Jan. 25 meeting, the Pinellas County Charter Review Commission published its meeting schedule for the coming six months; the time allotted this commission to complete its work.
The 13-member Charter Review Commission is appointed by the Board of County Commissioners every six years to look at the Pinellas County Charter and discuss areas in need of improvement. The commission comprises four elected officials and nine members of the community. The commission functions as an independent authority with the ability to put charter amendments and referendum questions directly on the November 2010 general election ballot. Any such proposed amendments would be outlined in a report to the citizens issued by July 31, 2010.
All meetings begin at 4 p.m. at the Mid County Tax Collector’s office, Starkey Lakes Corporate Center, 13025 Starkey Road in Largo:
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Tuesday, Feb. 9
- Monday, Feb 22
- Tuesday, March 9
- Monday, March 22
- Tuesday, April 13
- Monday, April 26
- Tuesday, May 11
- Monday, May 24
- Tuesday, June 8
- Monday, June 14 (public hearing)
- Monday, June 21 (2nd public hearing, if needed)
- Monday, June 28
- Tuesday, July 13
- Monday, July 26
Meetings are open to the public and provide an opportunity for citizens to speak. Complete
information on Charter Review Commission meetings and activities can be found at Charter Review Commission. Residents may contact the CRC via e-mail through that website to share suggestions and ideas concerning the current charter review process as well as issues that would be appropriate for review by the current Charter Review Commission.
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February is Feline Spay Month - watch video
 Help keep the cat population under control and female felines healthier during the 11th Annual Feline Spay Month. Because February is a prime breeding season for cats, local shelters and veterinarians will team up during the month to help citizens ease the problem of unwanted litters. Time is of the essence as kittens can get pregnant as early as five months of age.
Pinellas County Animal Services will offer low-cost spaying of female cats for a fee of $30 at the facility in Largo. Rabies vaccinations will cost $1 during February with purchase or proof of license. The Animobile, Pinellas County’s mobile veterinary clinic, will also be used for surgeries. Animal Services offers free spaying of female cats that are owned by anyone receiving public assistance such as Medicaid or food stamps.
For an appointment for surgery during February or for information on participating veterinarians, call (727) 586-3591.
Pinellas County Animal Services is teaming up with other members of the local Pinellas Animal Partners Association including Friends of Strays, Humane Society of Pinellas, Pinellas Animal Foundation, Pinellas County Veterinary Medical Association, Pet Pal Animal Shelter and SPCA Tampa Bay. Citizens should check with participating organizations for spaying costs and times of operation.
The Pinellas County Animal Services shelter and adoption center is located at 12450 Ulmerton Road, Largo. The public is invited to view the animals up for adoption during shelter hours – no appointment is necessary. The adoptions section closes a half hour before closing. The hours of Pinellas County Animal Services are: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The adoption areas will close 30 minutes prior to the shelter closing. The shelter will not be open to the public on Thursdays, Sundays or holidays. The outside animal drop-off will be open on those days that the shelter is closed to the public.
For information, visit Animal Services or call (727) 582-2600 . The rabies/quarantine hotline is (727) 582-2608. The lost or found pets hotline is (727) 582-2604.
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Think Smart: Get an Early Start
Pinellas County Utilities will now charge a late payment fee on bills greater than $5 that are not received and posted to customer accounts by the “Delinquent After” due date on the billing statement. The late payment fee will be 10 percent of the bill due, with a minimum charge of $1 and a maximum charge of $500. The change took effect Feb. 1.
Every two months, Pinellas County Utilities sends the bill for utility services the customer has already used. Every customer is then given 21 days to make their payment.
Payments “in the mail” or in the drop box are not exempt from this late payment fee; payment must be posted to the account. Paying on time will prevent the added expense of a late payment fee and repeated late payments may require a deposit charge be added to the account.
One of the best ways to always make payment on time is with the Autopay program. This program posts the payment on the due date – no sooner and no later. For more payment options call (727) 464-4000, visit us online at Pinellas County Utilities or stop by 14 S. Fort Harrison Ave. in Clearwater for assistance.
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Group Ceremony to Celebrate Valentine’s Day - watch video
 Once again, numerous couples will join together at the picturesque Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo for one group wedding ceremony to be performed by Clerk of the Circuit Court, Ken Burke, on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, Feb. 14.
This is the fourth year the Clerk’s Office is hosting this event, which has become a county tradition. The Clerk’s Office is officially closed on Sundays, but romance doesn’t take time off, so Burke decided to still hold the event.
“The 40 couples who simultaneously exchanged vows in the one marriage ceremony last year adored the idealistic wedding setting,” said Burke. “The sculptures, mosaic artwork, topiary and rose gardens come together to create a breathtaking setting nestled right in the heart of Pinellas County.”
The Clerk has waived the normal $30 fee to perform the marriage. Standard marriage license fees will still apply. To participate, couples must sign up at any Pinellas County Clerk’s office by Monday, Feb. 8.
The number of couples may be limited due to space. Marriage licenses must be applied for by Feb. 11 in order to participate on the Feb. 14 wedding date.
The one ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. in the Wedding Garden at Florida Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33774. Couples will receive a special, commemorative Marriage Certificate, which will be mailed within one week from the date of the ceremony with the official certificate of marriage. All couples should arrive at the Botanical Gardens by 1 p.m. on the day of the event with their marriage license and identification.
For more information regarding the process and locations to apply for a marriage license, contact Recording Services at (727) 464-3008, or visit the Clerk’s website. For more information, visit the Florida Botanical Gardens.
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Recycling Directory Distributed This Weekend - watch video
 The free guide to countywide recycling, the 2010 Pinellas County Recycling Directory, will be distributed in the Sunday, Jan. 31, edition of the St. Petersburg Times and the Tampa Tribune. Look for it with the inserts.
The guide includes a countywide map of locations that accept recycling materials, specifying the items that residents can take to the sites. Information on the recycling programs of the 24 county municipalities is also included, as well as for the unincorporated areas of the county.
For more information, visit the 2010 Pinellas County Recycling Directory.
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Utilities Looks at Conservation Rates
Pinellas County Utilities is exploring the development of a conservation rate structure to better manage excessive water use. This is in response to public interest in conservation and a request from SWFWMD to manage excessive demand through conservation rates.
The rate structure for residential customers that is under consideration will consist of five pricing tiers based on the amount of water used.
Pricing tiers for residential customers will result in an overall cost reduction for low users, a cost incentive to conserve water and additional costs for excessive users.
The rate structure will include a customer account charge as well as a base facility charge for residential and commercial customers.
Similar rate structures exist in the Tampa Bay area and are an industry standard for water utilities.
For more information, visit Pinellas County Utilities.
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Residents May Qualify for Tax Exemptions
Pinellas County Property Appraiser Pam Dubov reminds permanent residents of Pinellas County that they may qualify for one or more property tax exemptions, which may result in hundreds of dollars in property tax savings. But, they must apply before the March 1 deadline.
Florida offers several types of property tax benefits for qualified residents:
- Homestead exemption for a primary residence
- Low income senior exemption
- Widow/widower exemption
- Disability exemptions and exemptions for blind persons
- Exemptions for veterans with a service connected disability (or for his or her surviving spouse)
- Discount for combat wounded Florida veterans over age 65 who entered the service while a Florida resident.
Each exemption has its own set of specific qualifications. To find out if you qualify, or for additional information, call the Personal Exemptions Division of the Property Appraiser’s office at (727) 464-3294, or visit Pinellas County Property Appraiser.
Some important facts to remember:
- The homestead exemption automatically renews each year, but not all of the exemptions do.
- If you purchased a property that had a homestead exemption at the time of purchase, that exemption will be removed on Dec. 31, and you will need to apply for your own.
- The deadline to file for a personal exemption for 2010 is Monday, March 1, 2010.
Regular office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For the convenience of Pinellas citizens, all Property Appraiser offices will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20, and Saturday, Feb. 27.
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Oral Rabies Vaccines to be Distributed Countywide
Pinellas County and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are distributing oral rabies vaccination baits throughout the county. Rabies is a virus that affects the central nervous system in mammals. The disease is invariably fatal if left untreated; however, effective vaccines are available to protect people and pets.
The ORV baits consist of a sachet, or plastic packet, containing the rabies vaccine. To make the baits attractive, the sachets containing the vaccine are encased inside hard fishmeal-polymer blocks about the size of a matchbox. The fishmeal polymer baits contain a rabies vaccine that once consumed by a raccoon will vaccinate the animal against the rabies virus. As the number of vaccinated animals in the population increases, the baits act as a buffer to stop the spread of the disease to other wildlife, domestic animals and people.
In urban areas, ground teams are distributing the baits by hand, and in some areas, baits will be distributed by helicopter by Pinellas County Mosquito Control.
This year, the ORV program will redirect the focus towards the management and research of wildlife rabies in Pinellas County. The ORV baiting zone will be 184 square miles distributing approximately 63,000 baits by helicopter, hand baiting on the ground and bait stations.
If you find bait near your home, it is best to leave the bait where you found it unless it is on your lawn, driveway or other area not likely to attract a raccoon. While wearing a glove or other protective covering (i.e. plastic bag, paper towel), you can move the bait to an area of thicker cover where a raccoon will be more likely to find it. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after any contact with a bait.
An intact bait will not harm you but the smell may get on your skin and is objectionable to people. If a bait is broken and pink liquid (vaccine) is visible, you should protect your hands with gloves, and place the bait in a bag and dispose of it with your regular trash because the bait will no longer be effective. If you suspect you may have been exposed to the vaccine please call (877) 722-6725 or 1 (866) 487-3297.
There is no reason for concern if your dog or cat eats a bait. This vaccine has been shown to be safe in more than 60 different species of animals, including domestic dogs and cats. Eating a large number of baits may cause a temporarily upset stomach in your pet but does not pose a long-term health risk. Do not attempt to remove bait from your pet’s mouth; doing so may cause you to be bitten. If your pet becomes ill from bait consumption, please contact your veterinarian for more information.
You cannot contract rabies from contact with the vaccine. The vaccine does not contain the live rabies virus, but only a single gene from the outer coating of the rabies virus. The virus that carries this single gene may cause a local pox-type infection in people who are pregnant or have an immunodeficiency disease.
If you come into contact with the vaccine, wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and call the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services office at (866) 487-3297 or your local health department for further instructions and referral. For more information please visit National Rabies Management.
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Agencies Respond to Fish Kills
Pinellas County Environmental Management has been receiving reports about dead fish in local waters, as the effects of the prolonged period of cold weather have caused greater numbers of salt and freshwater fish to be impacted, according to Kelli Hammer Levy, of Environmental Management.
Residents are encouraged to report fish kills resulting from the recent cold weather to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish Kill Hotline at 1 (800) 636-0511. However, this hotline is not equipped to handle inquiries about clean-up of dead fish.
In response to the many inquiries, Pinellas County Solid Waste Operations is waiving all charges for the proper disposal of dead fish to alleviate the financial impact on municipalities, collectors and others who are picking up the dead fish.
In addition, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued an executive order that temporarily removes specific harvest regulations for all dead saltwater fish of any species that have died as a result of prolonged exposure to cold weather in Florida waters. It also modifies general methods of taking dead saltwater fish from Florida's shoreline and from the water to allow the collection of saltwater fish by hand, cast net, dip net or seine.
Residents are now allowed to pick up dead fish that died from the cold and dispose of them. The fish may not be consumed or sold. This allows residents, municipalities and others to pick up the dead fish from yards, shorelines and waterways. Those who collect the dead fish and transport for disposal are not required to possess a saltwater fishing license.
This FWC executive order expires on Feb. 1, unless it is repealed sooner or extended by subsequent order.
One of the executive orders temporarily extends closed fishing seasons for snook statewide until September. It also establishes temporary statewide closed seasons for bonefish and tarpon until April because of the prolonged natural cold weather event that caused significant, widespread mortality of saltwater fish in Florida.
Snook season currently is closed in Florida under regular FWC rules, and there are also regular closed snook seasons that occur in the summer. However, the FWC executive order extends the statewide snook closed seasons continuously through Aug. 31 and provides that no person may harvest or possess snook in state and federal waters off Florida during this period unless the fishery is opened sooner or the closure is extended by subsequent order.
The order also establishes a temporary prohibition on the harvest and possession of bonefish and tarpon from state and federal waters off Florida through March 31, unless these fisheries are opened sooner or the closures are extended by subsequent order.
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Pinellas receives $17.8 million for neighborhood stabilization
Pinellas County will receive $17.8 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The funding is part of a $50 million award to Florida Suncoast Partners, a consortium consisting of Neighborhood Lending Partners, Pasco County, and Pinellas County.
The cities of Clearwater and Largo also partnered with the consortium to prepare the grant. Pinellas County’s share will be used in eligible neighborhoods throughout unincorporated Pinellas, Largo, Clearwater, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs and Oldsmar that represent a high number of foreclosures.
The money will be used to help halt the decline of property values in neighborhoods that have been heavily impacted by the foreclosure crisis. Single-family and multi-family properties in physical decline will be purchased and renovated. Once properties have been refurbished they will be sold or rented to income qualified households.
“We are very excited about this new opportunity,” said Cheryl Coller Reed, assistant director for the Pinellas County Community Development Department. “This program will greatly assist in our efforts to stabilize neighborhoods that have been adversely affected by significant foreclosure activity and assist in the creation and preservation of affordable housing.”
Help with down payment and closing costs will also be available under the new program.
For additional information contact Pinellas County Community Development at (727) 464-8210.
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Charter Review Commission Elects Chair/Vice Chair
In its Jan. 5 meeting, the Pinellas County Charter Review Commission elected former Pinellas County commissioner Ronnie Duncan as chairman and former St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce board chairman Ricardo Davis as vice chair.
The group also chose Kurt Spitzer & Associates as commission consultant along with Bryant Miller Olive P.A. as legal counsel.
The 13-member Charter Review Commission is appointed by the Board of County Commissioners every six years to look at the Pinellas County Charter and discuss areas in need of improvement. The commission comprises four elected officials and nine members of the community. The commission functions as an independent authority with the ability to put charter amendments and referendum questions directly on the November 2010 general election ballot. Any such proposed amendments would be outlined in a report to the citizens issued by July 31, 2010.
Elected officials appointed to this session’s Charter Review Commission include Pinellas County Commissioner Kenneth T. Welch, Pinellas County Tax Collector Diane Nelson, state Rep. Ed Hooper and Safety Harbor Mayor Andy Steingold. Citizens at large include Ronnie Duncan, Ricardo Davis, Palm Harbor Fire Chief James Angle, former Pinellas County GOP chair Paul Bedinghaus, Clearwater Bar Association past president Gerald A. Figurski, St. Petersburg architect William B. Harvard, Jr., St. Petersburg attorney Melissa Jagger, former Dunedin commissioner Deborah Kynes and Lealman Community Association president Ray Neri.
The next meeting of the Charter Review Commission is scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25, at Pinellas County’s Mid County Tax Collector’s Office at 13025 Starkey Road in the Starkey Lakes Corporate Center, Largo. Meetings are open to the public and provide an opportunity for citizens to speak. Complete information is available on the Charter Review Commission website. Residents may contact the CRC via e-mail through that website to share suggestions and ideas concerning the current charter review process as well as issues that would be appropriate for review by the current Charter Review Commission.
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Join the Sunstar FirstCare Ambulance Membership Plan - play video
 Applications are now available for the Sunstar FirstCare Ambulance Membership Plan for this year’s enrollment period through March 31, 2010.
The Sunstar FirstCare Ambulance Membership Plan is a Pinellas County government program that works with an individual’s insurance company to cover out-of-pocket expenses associated with medically necessary ambulance transportation. It covers unlimited medically necessary transportation, to or from a medical facility within Pinellas County, offering protection that may be lacking with insurance coverage.
Memberships are $45 for an individual; $70 for the family plan. Coverage is effective through March 31, 2011 upon receipt of a completed membership application and remittance.
For more information, call (727) 582-2008. Download an application at Pinellas County FirstCare.
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Belleair Causeway Boat Ramp Opens - play video
With just a few finishing touches remaining, the Belleair Causeway Boat Ramp opened on Jan. 1, 2010. The new facility offers 108 boat trailer parking spaces, 98 passenger car spaces, a fishing pier, four courtesy docks and 10 boat launching lanes.
Closed since the beginning of the Belleair Beach Causeway Bridge project, the boat ramp will now be open 24 hours a day, with portable restroom facilities on site. Additional landscaping and signage will be installed in the coming weeks. In adherence with Pinellas County’s fee schedule for boat ramp parks, parking will cost $6 per day for vehicles with trailers and $2 per day for passenger vehicles once pay stations are installed in the near future. An annual parking pass is also available.
The boat ramp is located at 3900 W. Bay Drive in Belleair Bluffs.
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Motorists required to “ Gather Go Get” - Drivers License Update
 Beginning Jan. 1, 2010, new standards go into effect for obtaining and renewing driver licenses and identification cards. Pinellas County residents will be hearing a lot more about www.GatherGoGet.com as motorists will be required to prove their identity as they Gather documentation, Go to a tax collector or state driver license office, and Get a new driver license or identification card.
“Don’t wait until the last minute,” said Pinellas County Tax Collector Diane Nelson. “It is very important that customers visit www.GatherGoGet.com to get their own personalized list of requirements before visiting any driver license office.”
Florida leads the nation in an effort to provide residents with an even more secure identification card. Current Florida license or ID cards will continue to be valid as identification for federal purposes until Dec. 1, 2014 for individuals born after Dec. 1, 1964, and Dec. 1, 2017 for everyone else. After 2014 and 2017, federal agencies will no longer accept a driver license or ID card unless it is REAL ID compliant. Residents will not be allowed to board commercial flights or enter federal facilities unless they have compliant identification.
When visiting an office, applicants must bring original documents that prove identity, Social Security number and residential address (cannot be a post office box).
Proof of Identity (bring one) – certified birth certificate (not hospital), valid US passport, certificate of naturalization or a consular report of birth abroad. (People who have had a legal name change are required to present original or certified copies of all marriage certificates or court orders that show name changes.)
Proof of Social Security Number (bring one) – Social Security card, W-2 form, pay check stubs showing the number, DD-214, school records showing number or documentation from IRS showing number.
Proofs of Residential Address (bring two) – deed, mortgage, monthly mortgage statement or payment booklet or rental agreement; Florida voter registration card; Florida vehicle registration or title; W-2 form or 1099; utility bill, hookup or work order not more than two months old; current automobile or homeowner’s insurance policy or bill; mail from financial institution not more than two months old; medical or health card with address; letter from shelter or half-way house verifying applicant lives at this address; current educational transcripts; statement from an accompanying parent, stepparent or guardian residing at the same address as applicant. The parent or guardian must present proof of residential address. NOTE: Hand-written documents not accepted.
Regardless of when your driver license is up for renewal, we suggest that all motorists visit www.GatherGoGet.com to obtain a personalized list and gather the required documents before visiting a tax collector or driver license office. For more information about Florida ID and other tax collector services, please contact the Pinellas County Tax Collector’s office or call the Tax Collector’s E-Service Center at (727) 464-7777
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Consumer Tips:
Fraud Alert: Online Appeals for Haitian Earthquake Relief
The FBI has issued a Haitian Earthquake Relief Fraud Alert to remind Internet users who receive appeals to donate money in the aftermath of Tuesday’s earthquake in Haiti to apply a critical eye and do their due diligence. Past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization and/or a good cause.
Therefore, before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, to include the following:
- Do not respond to any unsolicited (spam) incoming e-mails, including clicking links contained within those messages.
- Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as surviving victims or officials asking for donations via e-mail or social networking sites.
- Verify the legitimacy of nonprofit organizations by utilizing various Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming the group’s existence and its nonprofit status rather than following a purported link to the site. Check with the state’s Gift Givers’ Guide, A Guide to Charitable Giving in Florida.
- Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.
- Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf to ensure contributions are received and used for intended purposes.
- Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions: Providing such information may compromise your identity and make you vulnerable to identity theft.
Anyone who has received an e-mail referencing the above information or anyone who may have been a victim of this or a similar incident should notify the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or locally contact Justice & Consumer Services at 727-464-6200.
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Give Wisely: Make Sure the Charity is Registered
During these difficult economic times, many organizations are making charitable appeals for donations to assist those in need. Solicitations for contributions come by way of the Internet, mail, telephone calls and collection containers placed at store locations. Most charities provide valuable services in their community. However, there are some that may be misleading in how they spend their money or use names similar to well-known organizations.
Before you decide to give, make sure that the charity is registered to solicit in Florida and that your contribution will be used for the intended purpose. All charitable organizations soliciting must register and file an annual financial report with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Pinellas County Justice & Consumer Services offers these tips to assist you with selecting a charitable organization:
- Check with the state’s Gift Givers’ Guide, A Guide to Charitable Giving in Florida to determine if the charity is licensed or call 800-435-7352.
- Find out how much of your donation goes to helping people as opposed to fundraising and administrative expenses.
- Request a copy of the organization’s most recent financial information, such as a federal tax return.
For additional information and reports on national charities, visit BBB Wise Giving Alliance at www.give.org. For information on consumer issues and your rights, call or visit the Pinellas County Department of Justice & Consumer Services at (727) 464-6200.
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Communications
Department
333 Chestnut Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
(727) 464-4600 FAX (727) 464-4432
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