Okaloosa County residents will soon notice a decrease in their vehicle registration renewal fees.
"The governor has signed legislation that will save Florida motorists $395 million in vehicle renewal fees, based on an average savings of $25 per registration," Okaloosa County Tax Collector Ben Anderson said.
Okaloosa County officials have recommended single-year, as opposed to biennial, renewals since the Legislature introduced the bill this year.
"This single-year renewal should save our citizens $220,000 between then and the effective date of the new law on Sept. 1, 2014," Anderson said.
The Legislature and then-Gov. Charlie Crist raised registration fees in 2009 to balance the state budget, a Constitutional requirement.
"Seldom do we see government give up a tax once they establish it on the people, but (now) that has happened," Anderson said. "… These savings will work their way into Florida's economy while benefiting our citizens, a true win-win for the state and the people."
Call the Tax Collector's Customer Service Processing Center, 651-7300, or click here for more information on the vehicle renewal fee change.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa vehicle registration renewal fees to decrease