The Laker/Lutz News

property tax rate

Zephyrhills wants more data before setting tax rate

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Zephyrhills property owners will have to wait a bit longer before finding out the property tax rate for fiscal year 2020-2021.

The Zephyrhills City Council tabled setting a tentative millage rate, until information on projected revenue streams is provided from the Florida Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research (EDR).

The consensus decision came during a July 13 regular council meeting.

Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe (Courtesy of Billy Poe)

A memo from city staff recommended setting the tentative millage rate at 6.35 — the rate the city has maintained for several years.

However, Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe advised council members to hold off on a decision until more concrete projections are available from the EDR on various revenue sources, including communications services tax, Penny for Pasco, local government half-cent sales tax, local option fuel tax and the municipal revenue sharing program.

Once the council adopts a proposed millage rate, it can be decreased but cannot be increased unless the city mails a notice to each taxpayer.

Poe told the council he’s “pretty positive” the city won’t need to set a millage rate higher than 6.35. But, the city manager warned: “With everything that’s going on, we don’t want to have to set the millage rate too low, if we have to increase.”

A mill represents $1 in tax for every $1,000 worth of a property’s assessed value.

In Zephyrhills, maintaining a rate of 6.35 mills would levy about $5.32 million in property taxes — a revenue increase of almost $380,000, compared to last year, according to the memo.

The figures are based on the total city’s property value of nearly $838 million, an increase of $63.8 million over last year; $28.7 million of that increase is attributable to new construction.

Reports from the EDR are expected in time for the July 27 council meeting, Poe said.

Once the city sets a tentative millage rate, the council will conduct two public hearings in September before adopting a final rate.

The delay in receiving EDR reports won’t have an impact on budget preparations, Poe said, noting that various department heads have been in such discussions.

With that, the city manager outlined considerations and projects that likely will need to be factored into the city’s next budget. Those include:

  • 911 Public Service Answering Point (PSAP) agreement with Pasco County
  • Funding for the East Pasco Family YMCA
  • Payouts for all city fire rescue personnel, as part of a merger with Pasco Fire Rescue
  • Funding for a business/job incentive program, in conjunction with the county
  • Increased wages for Zephyrhills Police Department officers — negotiated last year through its police union
  • Life Scan Physical program for police department
  • Stormwater Master Plan funding
  • Retirement payouts
  • Simons Road Phase II design
  • Installing a crosswalk between the subdivisions connecting Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center and Silverado Golf & Country Club, on the east side of Simons Road
  • Increased animal control costs
  • Increased retirement costs
  • Trail System Master Plan funding
  • Sidewalk improvements within the city’s Community Redevelopment Area (CRA)
  • County Road 54 improvement costs
  • Agenda software upgrades
  • Renovations to the Hercules Park property

Published July 22, 2020

Pasco County property tax rate won’t change

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Pasco County property owners will pay the same tax rate as they did last year, but their property bill could rise, if the value of their property has increased.

The Pasco County Commission had its first public hearing on the county’s budget for fiscal year 2019 on Sept. 4.

The board’s final budget hearing is set for Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m., at the West Pasco Government Center Board Room, 8731 Citizen Drive in New Port Richey.

The tax rates, which will remain the same, are at 7.6076 for the county’s operations and 1.8036 for fire services.

The board can reduce the millage rates at its final public hearing on Sept. 17, but cannot increase the rate.

The tentative budget for the fiscal year is comprised of 69 separate funds, with a total budget of $1,349,683,373, including fund balances, reserves and net assets.

Here is a summary of the tentative budgeted expenditures for 2019:

  • General government: $215,650,048
  • Public safety: $232,689,204
  • Physical environment: $218,163,923
  • Transportation: $126,265,565
  • Economic environment: $26,587,512
  • Human services: $15,499,611
  • Culture/recreation: $25,068,689
  • Other nonoperating: $52,161,676
  • Court-related expenditures: $3,476,178
  • Fund balances, reserves, net assets: $433,120,967

The county’s taxable assessed values increased 9.51 over last year.

Some highlights of the budget include fully funding Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco’s 2019 budget request; a 4 percent wage increase for board and constitutional officer employees; $5.4 million for various county initiatives and $6.4 million for infrastructure improvements.

Highlights in the Municipal Fire Service Unit Fund include two additional rescue units, an arson dog, a volunteer services chief and a wage increase for union employees.

No one spoke during the public comment portion of the hearing.

Published September 12, 2018

Pasco’s property tax rate is up for vote

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Pasco County commissioners are scheduled to set a preliminary property tax rate, known as a millage rate, at their July 11 meeting in Dade City.

The meeting starts at 10 a.m., at the Pasco County Historic Courthouse, at 37918 Meridian Ave.

The rate determines how much revenue the county can collect in property taxes for fiscal year 2018.

Teens and pre-teens search through Legos during a Lego Day at the Land O’ Lakes Branch of the Pasco County Library System. Hours would be expanded at county libraries, under the Pasco County Commission’s proposed budget. (File)

That information must be provided to the Pasco County Property Appraiser’s Office in time to print and mail out annual TRIM (Truth-in-Millage) notices in August to property owners.

At a June 13 workshop, county commissioners looked at a proposed 2018 budget presented by Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles.

The approximately $1.3 billion budget fell short of meeting commissioners’ objectives.

They agreed to a list of new budget items, including restoration of library hours, upgrades at some parks, new ambulance purchases, and a third-year of promised salary increases to Pasco County deputies.

To cover expenses, commissioners chose to use about $7.6 million in reserve funds while maintaining the current millage rate.

A mill equals $1 in taxes per $1,000 in taxable value.

For example, a property owner would pay $100 in taxes based on a 1 mill rate and property with a $100,000 taxable value. In calculating the taxable value, the county applies qualifying deductions and exemptions.

For the general fund, the millage rate currently is about $7.60 per $1,000 of property value. For the fire district, the rate is about $1.80 per $1,000.

Some property owners still could see small increases in their taxes based on a 2.1 percent increase in overall property values.

Two public hearings must be held before a final vote on the 2018 budget, and the millage rate, in September. The fiscal year begins on Oct. 1.

Once county commissioners give initial approval to the millage rate, it can’t be increased prior to the final budget vote. Commissioners could, however, choose to decrease the rate.

Published July 5, 2017