Do Over: Century Meets Again To Approve Tentative Tax Increase, New Budget
September 29, 2021
The Town of Century held a special council meeting Tuesday evening to redo a previous meeting to pass a tentative property tax increase and budget for the next fiscal year after botching the process on the first try.
The votes taken Tuesday give tentative, approval to a property tax increase with a millage rate of .9204, which is 7.61% greater than the rolled-back rate of .8553 mills. The rolled-back rate is the tax rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as approved for the prior year. Anything greater than the rolled-back rate is a tax increase.
The town gave tentative approval to a $5.7 million budget for fiscal year 2021-2022, up from $4.14 million during the current fiscal year. The increase is mostly due to income from grants.
Council member James Smith joined the meeting by Zoom audio in time for the budget vote, saying he had trouble getting into the meeting call. Council member Leonard White did not attend or take part in the Zoom call.
The town won’t officially have a budget in place when their new fiscal year begins on October 1. The council will vote on final final approval of the tax rate and budget during a meeting at 7:15 p.m. on October 4.
Pictured: A special Century Town Council meeting Tuesday. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
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2 Responses to “Do Over: Century Meets Again To Approve Tentative Tax Increase, New Budget”
@CJ the town of century can’t get a better government because no one in that town is capable of tying their own shoes without government assistance. In a town full of dummies you can’t build a government without dummies.
Here’s a question. Why was Mr. Smith absent and does state law allow town council member to dial-in to a meeting, participate in the debate and vote to especially include when they are voting on an ordinance or resolution? In addition, how would anyone in Century ever have known about this meeting? It was not listed on the town’s website where they list meetings. Also especially odd is that the town does not post the meeting agendas in advance for the public to see and if an agenda is belatedly posted to the website it contains pretty much nothing of use. How would a citizen really know what was going to be discussed at a meeting if the so-called “Council Meeting Agenda” does not include actual “agenda items.” Then, why are meeting minutes never posted to the town’s website? Are they secret? They must exist because they are mentioned in old agendas. Adding to the confusion, it doesn’t seem as if Century records its meetings so the public can watch them in real-time or watch them later. How about recording them and having Escambia County broadcast them on its channel on Cox cable? I’ve been to several town council meetings. They are a real “hoot.” I bet that some Century voters would love to watch the meetings or record them to watch later. What is someone offered free BBQ & beer to people who showed up at the meetings? Would that get a handful of people in Century to demand a better government?