Gregory Brown

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Greg Brown was elected to his first term as Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser in October 2000. He was re-elected in 2016 to his fifth term. Greg Brown is a Certified Florida Appraiser as designated by the Department of Revenue.

He graduated from Milton High School, Pensacola Junior College with an Associate of Arts degree and the University of West Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree. His military experience includes 15+ years in the Florida National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves. Greg spent 5 years enlisted service and the remainder as a commissioned officer. Greg initially was commissioned as an infantry officer and had basic officers training as a Transportation Officer and advanced officer training as a Signal Officer. During his time as a commissioned officer, Greg served to command three units in Northwest Florida. 160th Transportation Company (Crestview), HHD 111th Signal Bn., Company B, 417th Signal Bn. Corps Area Signal Company both in Pensacola. Graduated from Florida National Guard Officer Candidate School as an infantry officer at Camp Blanding, Florida in 1975.

Greg's current and past Community and State activities include: • Member of the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO). • Member of the Florida Chapter International Association of Assessing Officers (FCIAAO). • Member of the Florida Association of Property Appraisers - Treasurer (2012), President (2013). • Only second person to serve as president of both the Property Appraisers Association of Florida and the Florida Association of Property Appraisers. • Chamber Coalition Member (Santa Rosa Chamber, Pace Chamber, Jay Chamber, Navarre Chamber and Gulf Breeze Chamber). • Member of Navarre Chamber's Military Affairs Committee. • Member of the Property Appraisers' Association of Florida (PAAF) (2001 - 2005), President (2005), Second Vice President (2004), Legislative Chairman (2004), Secretary (2001). • United Way Board (2000 - 2005), Campaign Chairman (1981 and 2001), President (1982 and 2003). • Pace Rotary Club - Alumni Member. • Blackwater River State Forest Citizens Liaison Panel. • Policy member of the Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) Committee. • Youth Sports; Member of the Pace High School Quarterback Club, President (1999- 2000). • Pace High School Advisory Council (2001). • Coached sports at PARA (Baseball and Football). • Leadership Santa Rosa Graduate (2002) Class 16. • Board of Governor's Leadership Alumni Committee. • Greg was honored to be selected the Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce's "Man of the Year" for 2005. • Served on Governor's Sub-task force studying the effects of the BP Oil Spill on local values and economy.

Greg is dedicated to providing Service, Commitment and Security to the public. Since his election as the Property Appraiser, proactively, Greg has provided several "First" accomplishments within Santa Rosa County, including, but not limited to: • The First Elected Constitutional Official or county department to implement comment cards for taxpayer input on customer service. • The First Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser to have Saturday hours during the Homestead filing period for property owners to file for Homestead Exemption without any additional budget costs to the taxpayer. • The First Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser to have identification emblems on county cars, identifying shirts, ID badges, and business cards for staff to identify themselves to the property owner. • The First Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser to have an office open one day a week in North Santa Rosa County in Jay, Florida. • The First Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser to personally meet with the public and accept exemption applications in Jay, Pace, Navarre and Gulf Breeze. • The First Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser to hold "town hall" meetings dealing with significant tax law changes and issues following Hurricane Ivan.

Greg has been recognized for his ability to work in natural disasters by his article "Planning for Disaster and Recovery" published in the Fair and Equitable Magazine of the International Association of Assessing Officers in March 2006. This magazine is distributed to nearly 8,000 assessment professionals in 20 countries. Greg was nominated for the IAAO's Donehoo Essay Award for his article. Greg made a damage assessment presentation to the Florida Chapter of the International Association of Assessing Officers: the Florida Department of Revenue's Continuing Education Conference; Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties; presented in August 2006 to Florida Tax Collectors at their Continuing Education Conference given by the Florida Department of Revenue and presented at the International Conference of the International Association of Assessing Officers on this topic.

In 2013, Greg was requested to present to a joint conference of the International Association of Assessing Officers and International Property Tax Institute on Natural Disasters - Valuation Challenges. After Hurricane Sandy devastated New York, Greg was contacted by assessors in New York City concerning his article and information on how he conducted damage assessment after Hurricane Ivan and his advice on things they should or could do in their damage assessment process. After Hurricane Ivan, Greg actively pursued legislators in Tallahassee for an Ad Valorem reimbursement for those individuals who were displaced for 60 days or more due to damage to their homes. The legislature, in special session, approved this initiative. As a result, our county citizens who suffered hurricane damage were reimbursed over $1.5 million dollars. Also, in the following general legislative session, Greg pursued and is credited for Santa Rosa County receiving further funds to help with the cost associated with destruction caused by Hurricane Ivan. With the help of the Northwest Florida Legislative Delegation, the Santa Rosa County Commission received $1.5 million dollars.

Greg had software produced at his creation, direction and oversight for collection of land and improvement data outside of his office by field appraisers. He had this software copyrighted for Santa Rosa County and has been used by several counties in two states. This developed software performed by programmers on staff led to the reallocation of two personnel into other job positions within the office at a cost savings to the taxpayers. Again, at Greg's creation, direction and oversight a software program has been developed for business owners to file their Tangible Personal Property Tax Return online. His attorney is in the process of copyrighting this software program for Santa Rosa County. This online filing system, if used by the taxpayers, will also be another long-term cost savings to the citizens of Santa Rosa County. Greg Brown is believed to be one of the first, if not the first in the state, to provide Realtor listing information on his website in conjunction with the Navarre Area Board Of Realtors (NABOR) and Pensacola Area Realtors (PAR). This allows citizens to be able to view not only sales that have occurred in the last three years, but allows them to view active listings on his website. Greg has included County Commission voting and working districts, School Board districts, School districts, voting precincts, Sewer and Water Franchise areas, soils maps, fire hydrant locations, flood maps, zoning information, aerial maps and more information all in an effort to serve the citizens of Santa Rosa County.

In 2016, Greg and his staff won the most prestigious award given by the International Association of Assessing Officers as the Distinguished Jurisdiction Award. His office under his direction and guidance competed with jurisdictions from the U.S. and 20 other member countries. This is the highest award given to a jurisdiction by the IAAO.

Greg has been in, or associated with, the appraisal industry for nearly 40 years. His major goal, as Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser, is to enhance public awareness of the assessment process and making a variety of information available through the Appraiser's Office.

Sources

• First-hand information. Entered by Gregory Brown at registration.