Tallahassee (October 5, 2012) – Doug Belden, Tax Collector for Hillsborough County, received a special recognition by the Florida Tax Collector’s Association (FTCA) for earning a clean financial audit.

Belden presented with the Certificate of Merit by FTCA President Doris Maloy, of Leon County.

“Florida Tax Collectors believe that a clean audit is an achievement,” Maloy said. “As an association, we have chosen to honor elected officials when their careful and diligent work is underscored by a good and sound audit.”

State law requires that tax collectors, to be audited on an annual basis. The audits are filed with the Office of the Florida Auditor General and are available for public inspection.

In 2012, the Florida Tax Collector’s Association voted to recognize its members for achieving a clean audit. As part of the application process, audit reports were examined by a panel of judges in order to certify that no material findings were present.

“Florida Tax Collectors collect and distribute $30 billion in public funds each year,” Maloy noted. “The elected position of Tax Collector carries enormous responsibility and the citizens of   Hillsborough County can be very proud of Honorable Belden for the award-winning manner in which he operates the Tax Collector’s Office.”

In addition to the collection of property taxes, Tax Collectors provide other state work at the local level for the citizens to the benefit of the Department of Revenue, Department of Highway Motor Vehicles, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.