Jacksonville, FL — Aiming to provide a more convenient option for you, while potentially bringing in more revenue for the office, the Duval Tax Collector’s Downtown branch is now accepting applications to receive or renew a concealed weapons license.
Tax Collector Jim Overton says some 50 other counties in Florida already offer that service, and he feels it is time Duval County catches up.
“Absolutely a convenience for the citizens of Jacksonville, so they don’t have to go to the state or some other county,” Overton says.
In Northeast Florida, Baker, Clay, Nassau, and St. Johns County Tax Collectors all accept these applications, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Before the Duval County Tax Collector started on Thursday, Jacksonville applications had to be submitted at the Regional Office for the FDACS.
Overton says they’ve already had some residents take advantage of the offering.
During the City's annual budget process, the Tax Collector's Office had sought the ability to hire more staff to specifically deal with concealed carry applications, in order to ensure they didn't stretch existing staff too far. Instead, the City Council increased the Office's employee cap by two, but didn't fund the positions. At that time, the Office said they hoped to be able to generate revenue through the service to cover the cost for those two employees.
IN DEPTH: Jacksonville's City budget
Chief Deputy Tax Collector Sherry Hall tells WOKV they have been able to temporarily fund the positions using money from a few vacancies in the department. While that is a temporary solution- until the positions are filled- she says they hope that once they start generating revenue from the service, they can fully appropriate the funds for the positions.
Hall estimated during the budget process that they could hopefully see more than $80,000 annually from adding the concealed carry licensing services.
Because of how they’re rolling it out, Overton says the new addition will not affect wait times for any other services.
“We stood this up as a separate thing, so it won’t affect any of the other operations,” he says.
You can submit an application and get fingerprinted at the Tax Collector’s Downtown branch at 231 E. Forsyth Street from 8AM through 4PM on weekdays. Overton plans to roll this out to other branches in the new year.
You can make an appointment online to reduce your wait time, but walk ins are also accepted. You must bring a picture ID, certificate of training, and payment to your appointment.
If you are doing a renewal, Overton says you will get your permit that day. If you are applying, he says they send the information to the State, so you will get your license in the mail weeks after.
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