Century Approves Tax Increase, Increased Budget

September 24, 2019

The Town of Century is raising taxes for the upcoming fiscal year in order to meet an increased budget.

Monday, the town council approved $3.63 million budget for the fiscal year 2019-2020, up slightly from $3.43 million during the current fiscal year. The council also approved a millage rate of .9204, which is about 10% greater than the rolled-back rate of .8361.

The rolled-back rate is the tax rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as approved for the prior year. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the state of Florida as a tax increase.

The budget and property tax increases were approved on a 3-0 vote. Council members Ann Brooks, Luis Gomez and Sandra McMurray-Jackson voted in favor, while James Smith and Ben Boutwell did not attend Monday’s meetings.

Pictured: Century council members Ann Brooks (left) and Sandra McMurray-Jackson await the arrival of councilman Luis Gomez for a quorum in order to conduct a budget hearing Monday. Gomez was running only about threes minutes late, but the council was unable to proceed with three of five members at the table. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

14 Responses to “Century Approves Tax Increase, Increased Budget”

  1. Edwin Reynolds on September 26th, 2019 5:05 pm

    Doesn’t the budget vote have to be advertised 30 days before a sno a public hearing can be involved before a vote

  2. Edwin Reynoldskili on September 25th, 2019 8:25 am

    Look at this a budget vote 3 empty chairs state audit 25 different checking accounts 3 million missing general funds 1.5 million gas funds missing 95 hundred to haul sludge 47 thousand for upgrades 35 dollars and hour up to 5ooo dollars with 3 empty chairs see the problem doesn’t century need better can we wake up and make it better I want to help

  3. chris on September 24th, 2019 7:12 pm

    @ IMHO: certainly the citizens need to get out and vote in some new rascals. But, in the meantime, make their voices heard. How many stories have I viewed on NE.com where the public turnout was minimal, if at all? Letter write. Email. Make your voice heard.

  4. IMHO on September 24th, 2019 6:17 pm

    Ok Chris while I’m Googling, and looking for my bifocals, what should the citizens do besides cleaning house at the next election in 2020?
    Edit: my previous post should have read fish fry….my apologies

  5. chris on September 24th, 2019 4:33 pm

    “It’s not the citizens “fault”” – tolerance constitutes acceptance. I guess you tore the pages concerning the American Revolution out of your history book. Google it sometime.

  6. IMHO on September 24th, 2019 2:39 pm

    It’s not the citizens “fault” this has happened. Place blame where it belongs, in the laps of those on the Council. The best a citizen can do is trust those you elect to fulfill their campaign promises. Other than starting a petition to oust the Mayor, which afterwards you’ll be forced to leave town, the citizens can only wait until the next election and kick butt! Until then, how about the citizens plan a fry for the TOC Council. Meet you at the river?

  7. chris on September 24th, 2019 10:25 am

    “The town is the citizens…period” Volumes are spoken with few words. And those citizens allow this circus to continue.

  8. Residnet on September 24th, 2019 9:58 am

    Is this tax increase legal. the charter article 1 section 9 page two reads as follows, That there shall not be any Ad Valorum tax leived on the people of Century,Florida, at any time without a Referendum vote by the people to determine wheather the voters of the town desire or need services or improvements that can not other wise be offered to the citizens of the town without the levy of such a tax.

  9. David on September 24th, 2019 9:56 am

    The town of century did no raise their own taxes..The town is the citizens…period

  10. tax payer on September 24th, 2019 9:26 am

    they have to be able to give away free gas. The mayor has to go on his elbow rubbing trips,fly in more prospective investors, ETC.
    Hire more advizors.

  11. Question on September 24th, 2019 9:19 am

    So, with the increase in millage rates for the Town of Century in mind, will the town residents also see an additional increase in millage rates from the county raising taxes?

  12. tg on September 24th, 2019 8:44 am

    As you can see nothing is important in Century. No one shows up. I guess they are all out installing Gas Meters.

  13. SW on September 24th, 2019 7:22 am

    Do you people think there is an unlimited supply of money out here?

  14. Smokey on September 24th, 2019 6:53 am

    Really? That town needs to just quit and let the county have it. They can’t budget anything.