Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
June 8, 2017 1:53 p.m.
Ocean Highway and Port Authority (OHPA) Chairman Adam Salzburg presented Fernandina Beach Mayor Robin Lentz with two checks totaling $100,000 representing PILOT payments for FY 2014/15 and FY 2015/16. These annual payments had been withheld pending the Florida Supreme Court’s ruling on the validity of these types of payments by special districts and independent authorities such as OHPA. The term PILOT is an acronym for Payment In Lieu Of Taxes.
Salzburg indicated that the OHPA Attorney and the City Attorney had been working to resolve this matter following the Court’s recent decision to uphold the validity of PILOT payments. In making his presentation, he advised that OHPA would present its check for FY 2016/17 later this summer.
Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.