Meet Your Property Appraiser, Neil Combee

Neil Combee

A Note From your Property Appraiser

Neil Combee is a Polk County native, attended what is now Polk State College and Florida State University. His goal as Property Appraiser is to ensure property owners assessments are accurate and equitable along with administering all exemptions authorized by law to property owners.

Prior to being elected as Property Appraiser he served as Polk County commissioner in 1988 and until 2004. He was re-elected in the 2020 general election and served until 2024.

Following his initial service to the Board, he was appointed in 2005 to the governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District and served until 2012. Combee subsequently served in the Florida House of Representatives until 2017, when he was appointed by President Donald Trump as state executive director for the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service in Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Neil Combee, a proud Polk County native, is a dedicated public servant. He attended what is now known as Polk State College and Florida State University. As your Property Appraiser, Neil's primary objective is to ensure property owners' assessments are both accurate and fair, while also overseeing the administration of all exemptions authorized by law.

Neil's impressive career in public service began when he was elected as a Polk County commissioner in 1988, a position he held until 2004. He was re-elected in the 2020 general election and served through the completion of his term in November 2024.

After his fourth term as a Polk County commissioner, Neil was appointed to the governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District in 2005, where he served until 2012. Following this, he went on to serve in the Florida House of Representatives until 2017. In recognition of his dedication and expertise, Neil was appointed by President Donald Trump as the state executive director for the United States Department of Agriculture's Farm Service in Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Neil Combee's extensive experience and commitment to public service make him a valuable asset to the community as your Property Appraiser.

Biographical Information

• City of Residence:  Lakeland, Florida
• Occupation:  Property Appraiser
• Spouse:  Linda Weatherford of Lakeland
• Children:  Jerad, Beau
• Education:  Polk State College; Florida State University; Leadership Lakeland, 1991-1992
• Born:  Polk County FL
• Religious Affiliation:  Baptist
• Recreational Interest:  cooking, exploring back roads, fishing, hunting, reading

Legislative Service

• Elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2012, reelected subsequently
• Deputy Majority Whip, 2014-2016
• Resigned on November 24, 2017 to take a position as Florida state director of the USDA Farm Service Agency.

Other Public Services

• Florida Association of Counties, board member
• Lakeland Area Mass Transit District
• Myregion.org, Polk County Representative
• Polk Transportation Planning Organization
• Southwest Florida Water Management District, Volunteer Governing Board member, 2005-2012
• Polk County Commissioner, elected, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2020

Affiliations

• National Rifle Association
• Polk County Cattlemen's Association
• Polk County Farm Bureau
• Polk Taxpayers League

Highlights

• American Conservative Union, "A" Report Card, 2013, 2016
• Associated Industries, Champion for Business Award, 2016
• Florida Carry, Legislator of the Year, 2014, 2016
• Florida Chamber of Commerce, "A" Report Card, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
• Florida Farm Bureau, Champion for Agriculture, 2013, 2015, 2016
• Florida Police Chiefs Association, Legislator of the Year, 2015, 2016

Background

• Born in Polk County
• Resides in Lakeland
• Wife, Linda, two grown children and four grandchildren

Contact