On October 30, 2024, Governor DeSantis appointed Amy Blackburn who was sworn in on November 1, 2024, as Hernando County’s Tax Collector. She attended the University of Florida, graduating in Business Administration with a specialty in Marketing. For 18 years Ms. Blackburn worked in the field of respiratory care. It was during this time she met her husband and best friend, Freddy. They have two daughters, Sarah and Savannah. She and her husband are both softball coaches with the Hernando Youth League where their daughters play.

Ms. Blackburn made a career change in 2016 to public service with the Hernando Board of County Commissioners working in the budget department primarily regarding enterprise funds. In 2018 she became the Finance Director for the Hernando County Tax Collector and in 2023 promoted to Chief Deputy of Finance and Administration.

An advocate for technology, she contributed to several new initiatives, including the implementation of a new Tax Collection and Cashiering software, a CogBot to use artificial intelligence to answer basic questions, installing a motor vehicle express self-service kiosk in Publix, and other essential upgrades.

She is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Florida Tax Collectors Association, Hernando Chamber of Commerce, and Leadership Hernando.

Ms. Blackburn has lived in Hernando County over 23 years and has witnessed the growth in population and business development. She is looking forward to advancing the office through efficient innovation, education, and community engagement.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

It is the responsibility of the Hernando County Tax Collector to collect the myriad of taxes and fees imposed by all governmental units. The nature of the office under Florida's constitution and statutory system is two-fold: independent election; and budgetary review by the state. The Tax Collector deals with many state agencies, all local governments and all taxpayers within the county.

The revenue funding the office of the Tax Collector comes from state agency licensure through the charge of basic fees; the contract-based charging of certain fees or commissions between the Tax Collector and various local governments regarding special services; and statutory based commissions for collecting property taxes and some non-property assessments.

In addition to ad valorem property taxes, the Tax Collector also bills and collects special assessments generated by almost 100 municipal service benefit units for improvements such as street lighting, road paving, fire protection, subdivision maintenance, etc.