In the Aug. 13 edition of Highlands Today, there was a serious error made in the reporting of the story concerning Sun 'n Lake, both in the article and its editorial. Mention was made about how our taxes would be higher if Highlands County took over the governing of Sun 'n Lake; nothing could be further from the truth. Property owners in Sun 'n Lake pay property taxes to the county, just like any property within the county. In fact, property taxes paid within Sun 'n Lake are much higher than much of the county due to property values being assessed on the high end. In addition, each property owner pays an additional Sun 'n Lake assessment of approximately $600 per year, over and above the county property taxes. ...more

August 14, 2008

After doing weeks of research on the state law, legal issues and complaints of residents at Sun 'n Lake of Sebring, Highlands County Assistant Administrator Ricky Helms recommended Tuesday that the board of county commissioners do nothing about the battle there between homeowners and the large, absentee landowners. ...more

August 13, 2008

The nine-year nightmare is over for Sandra Tyrell and Spring Lake Improvement District. ...more

July 26, 2008

The Live Oak 1 Community Development District took another step toward homeowner control this month, when its board of supervisors appointed resident Scott Keen to fill the seat left vacant by former Engle Homes executive Joe Hennessey. ...more

July 23, 2008

as Homeland Security has repeatedly warned us they will - how many survivors will be consoled because the Supreme Court and the State Department looked out for the "rights" of terrorists before the rights of their dead loved ones? ...more

June 19, 2008

An Oakwood Village resident appointed Tuesday to the Live Oak I Community Development District Board of Supervisors is making plans to seek an elected seat on the board in November. ...more

June 14, 2008

Homeowners in this New Tampa gated community long have said they weren't getting first-rate service from developer Gene Thomason. ...more

June 14, 2008

CORY LAKE ISLES - Homeowners in this New Tampa gated community often complained that they weren't getting first-rate service from developer Gene Thomason. As the neighborhood weans itself from Thomason and his all-everything company, Cory Lakes Limited, it's learning that first-rate service will cost a hefty chunk of change. Cory Lake Isles homeowners will face a 34 percent increase in their assessments in the next fiscal year. That's a difference of $540 per household. ...more

June 10, 2008

SEBRING — The number of tax certificates being advertised for Saturday's annual certificate sale is about 50 percent greater than last year's, showing a huge spike in the number of delinquent property taxes. Investors looking to make interest off the unpaid property taxes will have 16,458 properties to choose from, compared to the 10,895 certificates for sale from the 2006 tax roll. The county creates a certificate on a property when its owner owes taxes that are more than two years overdue. Investors buy them for the amount owed and earn interest until the property owner pays them off. After two years, the certificate holder could also try to get back the investment by forcing a foreclosure. Highlands County Tax Collector Charles Bryan blamed the increase on both the growing number of properties on the tax roll and on two property owners in Sun N' Lake of Sebring that owe taxes on 2,885 properties. He acknowledged the current economy has a role in it as well. ...more

May 25, 2008

SEBRING — Sun 'N Lake is having elections today until 7 p.m. for two seats on its five-member board of supervisors. Voters can cast their ballot at the Sun 'N Lake Community Center. ...more

February 19, 2008