Tax Collector Vows To Fight For Vaccine Mandate, Gov's Spokes Takes Notice

Anne Gannon Eblast

Photo: CBS 12

As Governor Ron DeSantis promises to challenge the Biden administration's plans to require workplace vaccinations, the Palm Beach County tax collector vows to fight to keep her vaccine mandate in place.

"Well we've developed a strategy. We're probably going to go to court."

Anne Gannon tells CBS 12 News that she's discussed partnering with other tax collectors in the state if the Department of Health fines her office for requiring all employees without a religious or medical exemption to get the COVID vaccine.

"We will defend ourselves and our right to require our employees to get a vaccine."

When the reporter said to Gannon, "The tax collectors versus the governor?" she replied.

"It'll be fun. Yes."

The TV station tweeted the audio clip of the tax collector on Thursday and it got the attention of Governor Desantis' Press Secretary Christina Pushaw, who tweeted in response:

"Any entity that violates the STATE LAW against vaccine passports, including local politicians, will be assessed fines by the Department of Health, in accordance with Florida statute."

The law states that governments cannot require proof of a vaccination for a person "to gain access to, entry upon, or service from the governmental entity's operations in this state."

Pushaw says that "Obiviously, employees would need access/entry to premises of their employer."

Gannon has not received notice of a fine at this time, but it's estimated that if and when that happens it could be as high as $1.5 million. She says she would have no intention of paying it, choosing to fight it instead in court.

The tax collector's mandate does not allow for weekly testing, unless an employee qualifies for an exemption due to religious or medical reasons.

Leon County was notified this week that it is being fined more than $3.5 million for its vaccine mandate.


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content