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Property Tax Increase Could Be On The Way
September 8, 2009
A week from today, the Escambia County School Board is looking at a millage rate increase that would be the second highest in Florida.
The school board is looking at a millage rate of 7.86, an increase of 0.14. That means a 14 cent increase per $1,000 taxable value — $14 on a $100,000 home.
The millage rate increase will generate an extra $2.1 million toward a $595,778,138.30 budget for fiscal year 2009-2010 for the county’s school system. The board has until September 15 to finalize the budget and can make adjustments until that time.
The board has acknowledged that with declining property values, most people will actually see a decrease in their school taxes even if the millage rate were increased. In fact, the district expects the higher millage will generate $1.5 million less than the lower millage rate on higher property values last year. But those that have seen increase in their property values will face a higher tax burden.
An unofficial vote on the proposal was taken July 30, with board member Jeff Bergosh voting against the increase.
“With historic levels of unemployment, business failures, home foreclosures, personal bankruptcies, and general overall economic malaise in the local area, I just feel strongly that we should do everything in our power to keep the tax rate steady for our struggling local taxpayers,” Bergosh wrote on his blog Monday. “If the value of the tax roll shrinks, then the taxpayers ought to be able to see a corresponding reduction in the tax bill.”
The Escambia County School Board will hold their final vote on the tax increase on September 15.
Comments
7 Responses to “Property Tax Increase Could Be On The Way”
More is spent on the school board than at the actual shcool, sounds like bad management to me…
I hear ya Jack, This is county officals taking Advandge of the hardlly ever Federal funding and County all the time taxpayers. Sounds good Let’s get money in the right hand and ol yeah I need more in the Left hand. You know Teacher’s and Adminstrator’s need that Bonus. While there so many looking for Jobs.
“DOUBLE DIPPING” That’s the the kind of job I need!!!!!!!
I’m glad that they are raising my taxes so that they can build more 5 million dollar fieldhouses (PHS) that is money well spent. After all 3 quarters of our area atheletes get football scholarships….dont they?
The oil companies should have to cover all tax increases for the next twenty years, the cost of energy is what caused this whole crisis. People were having to choose between buying $4.50/gal gas, and buying groceries that were higher because of fuel, or paying their mortgages on time. Now that things are really bad, the state doubles tags and liscense fees, raises speeding fines, and let’s not forget that the DOT is out there stopping cars the same way as they do Commercial Vehicles, and now property taxes. What’s next are they gonna tax the air that we breathe? All of this is happening with a republican governor, Thank you Mr Crist.
The quality of education in escambia county seems to be inversely related to the budget – second highest tax rate to second lowest education quality. Quality of education seems to be directly related to quality of school board. And folks actually wonder why unemployment rate is so high, with education being so meager. Also makes me wonder about the quality of the county commission.
Why pay more taxes to educate Alabama students?
for the school year 2007-2008 the school district budget was $357 million dollars,
for the school year 2008-2009 the school district budget was $468 million dollars,
this year the proposed 2009-2010 budget is $595.7 million dollars (a 27% increase).
The explanation i was given was that the increase was all “stimulus money”. Well then, why increase the millage rate?
This rate of increase will DOUBLE the budget every 3.5 years!
????????????
SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!???