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Doug Belden, Hillsborough
County’s tax collector, was elected in November 1998 to fill the unexpired
term of Melvin Smith, who served as tax collector for 25 years before
retiring for health reasons.
Doug brings both private and public
sector experience to the office. A Tampa native, he worked in real estate
before coming to the State Attorney's Office as head of the office’s Elderly
Abuse Task Force. During that time, he also served on the Tampa Sports
Authority. He is a graduate of the
University of South Florida
and a member of Sacred Heart Church. He lives on
Harbor Island with his son, Doug Jr.
Doug’s goal as tax collector is simple:
To save taxpayers money through consolidation and efficiency and while
improving service at the branch offices. His objective is to make the
Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s Office the most modern and efficient
office in the state. He has already started by cutting the agency’s $15
million budget, reducing the number of high-paid executives and updating and
modernizing the branch offices.
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