BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. GULF COUNTY, FLORIDA INFORMATION JUNE 25, 2019 PAGE NO. BCC CORRESPONDENCE: A) Commissioners U.S. Senator Richard Burr (Disaster Tax Relief Taskforce - Support of S. 617 and H.R. 1148) 1 Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Charles P. Rettig (Request to extend eligibility under Revenue Procedure 2018-19 for residents of the Florida Panhandle impacted by Hurricane Michael) 2 B) Notices: Notice to Receive Sealed Bids (Bid #1819-35 * Type IIL Ambulance). 3 CORRESPONDENCE TO BCC: C) Annie's Outreach (Request Waive Reservations Fees * Veterans’ Memorial Beacon Hill Park * October 12, 2019) . 4 D) Apalachee Regional Planning Council (Concurrent Notice — Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact & Notice of Intent to Request Release of Funds * C.D.B.G. Grant #19DB-ON-02-33-02-NO9 Neighborhood Revitalization Category * City of Port St. Joe) 56 E) City of Port St. Joe (Notice of Public Hearing for Voluntary Annexation Small Scale Map Amendment to the City of Port St. Joe Comprehensive Plan and Zoning, Parcel #4272-000R) 7.9June 6, 2019 ‘The Honorable Senator Richard Burr 217 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Burr: Congratulations on your recent appointment to the disaster tax relief taskforce setup by the Senate Committee on Finance. | know you understand the need for disaster tax relief since North Carolina was recently impacted by Hurricane Florence. You know what we, in Florida, are going through with Hurricane Michael hitting our Panhandle in 2018. Taxpayers should know with Certainty that tax relief will be there for them in their darkest hours. Please support both disaster tax relief (S. 617 and H.R. 1148) and updated cost index tables under Revenue Procedure 2018-09. The disaster tax relief bills provide penalty-free withdrawals from retirement, release of income limitations on casualty losses, the ability to add casualty losses to the standard deduction and an employee retention credit. The cost index tables come from IRS Commissioner Rettig; these tables allow disaster victims a quick and simplified method for calculating their personal casualty losses on their homes. Victims of the 2018 storms and California wildfire victims need disaster tax relief now as these Issues impact their 2018 and 2019 tax returns. Thank you for your time in considering our request. Sincerely, Philip “Grif-Griffitts, Chair Sandy Quirtr-Chair Bay County, Florida Board of Commissions Gulf County, Florida Board of Commissions Grey City inicki, Mayor Panama City, Florida cc: The Honorable Senator Rick Scott 91 O1HY 61 NAP 6b 9 2109 ga TO Eh yous Leen Line,June 6, 2019 Commissioner Charles P. Rettig The Internal Revenue Service 1111 Constitution Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20224 Dear Commissioner Rettig: We are writing to ask your agency to extend eligibility under Revenue Procedure 2018-09 to benefit residents living in the Florida Panhandle that were impacted by Hurricane Michael. By extending eligibility under Revenue Procedure Rule 2028-09, individuals in the Florida Panhandle in particular will receive assistance in determining casualty losses on their property for tax purposes. ‘While we do acknowledge and understand individuals may be able to compute casualty losses for their homes currently, the process of assessing that loss is tedious and often requires volumes of paperwork to be able to qualify for the casualty loss. By extending Revenue Procedure 2018-09 to victims of Hurricane Michael, individuals willbe allowed to utilize the “Cost indexes Safe Harbor Method” which will streamline the process of assessing the loss in value of their personal residence. Without the benefit of Revenue Procedure 2018-09, the reality for our friends and neighbors in the Panhandle is they won't be able to ‘meet the criteria required for deducting a casualty loss because they can’t get contractors to give bids on repairing the damages to their homes. Contractors in our area are so overwhelmed and, in many cases, their response is that they will no longer be able to assess damages or give quotes on repairs. The use of the Cost index tables wil allow those impacted to use a streamlined approach for computing their casualty loss and in turn be able to work toward rebuilding their homes. ‘Our requestis to be able to utilize Cost Index Tables similar to those that the victims of the 2017 hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria had available to them. Hurricane Michael was a category 5 storm with catastrophic damage, we believe we should receive at least the same benefits as those in 2017 received, While some would use these tables for their 2028 returns, most people are settling their insurance claims in 2019, so they could use these tables on their 2019 returns. There is still time to generate these tables, ‘Thank you for your assistance and consideration of the above request. We are available any time to be of assistance in any way in this matter. Sincerely, . Philip “Grtee-Grffitts, Chair ‘Sahdy Quino, Chai Bay County, Florida Board gf Commissions Gulf County, Florida Board of Commissions cc: The Honorable Senator Rick Scott 31 -1uy OF NNT 6b