Doug Beldenâs lasting contributions to public service | Editorial Hillsborough Countyâs longtime tax collector retires with a solid legacy  This article represents the opinion of the Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board. Published Jan. 19 Few things can be more maddening than dealing with a government agency, especially one that takes your money. But Doug Belden changed that experience as Hillsborough County Tax Collector, building an office focused on customer service and 21st century expectations. Belden, 66, retired this month after completing a final, four-year term, and he leaves an office remarkably different from the one he inherited after first winning election in 1998. Long gone are the endless lines, indifferent bureaucrats and grungy offices that once typified county government. Belden trained a new generation of employees, computerized the operation, enlisted online tools for greater convenience and created a process for taxpayers to hold him accountable. His office became faster and more efficient, and along the way, saved taxpayers millions of dollars in overhead, while easing the hassle residents and employers faced in conducting routine county business.