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Century’s Approval Of 151% Property Tax Increase Delayed By Absent Councilman
September 9, 2022
The Town of Century’s attempt to tentatively approve a budget and property tax increase were stalled Thursday night after one council member was a no show.
The town is proposing a property tax rate that is 151.68% increase over what’s known as the rolled back rate. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the State of Florida as a tax increase.
The tax increase is so great that the state requires a unanimous vote of the body for approval, or a special referendum at the ballot box.
Council member Leonard White did not attend Thursday night’s meeting, and the council waited 30 minutes for his arrival.
Town Clerk Leslie Howington said she did not hear from White on Thursday, but he is employed at Century Correctional Institution where he is not allowed to have his phone for security reasons. She stated that she had been told that the prison had gone into a “class 2″ lockdown at noon Thursday while he was presumed to be at work.
Howington said she would check with the Florida Department of Revenue to determine how the town should proceed with a rescheduled hearing.
Pictured above: Council President Luis Gomez, Jr. (light blue shirt) waits for a meeting to begin while three other council members pass the time on their phones Thursday night. They were waiting in hopes that council member Leonard White would arrive. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
21 Responses to “Century’s Approval Of 151% Property Tax Increase Delayed By Absent Councilman”
taxation without competent representation.
Taxation without representation! Town just doubled flat rate on gas with out warning.
Any citizen traveling Pinewood Ave. notice high grass in ditches and trash by road, shameful and disgusting. Notified Mayor about ditch level with road, causing water to over flow and go under my houses.Called Town 4 times over period of 5months to at least weed eat ditch for now.Mayor campaigned on cleaning Town up, not happening.Only other ditches I know they weed eat is in front of Town Maintenance Shop.
Have you seen the new Soap Oprah As Century Turns?
SMH, you are right on.
I’m a little stumped here….
Their normal antics kept your taxes from being raised 151%.
Where’s the problem ?
Tom wrote “Look at the picture. What are they doing conducting business or playing pac man on their phone?”
Read all of the story, including the photo description at the bottom, and you’ll know what they were doing.
Communities depend on commerce. What businesses are thriving in Century? Seems raising property taxes will just drive homeowners elsewhere, likely to an area with more resources and closer to employment.
Look at the picture. What are they doing conducting business or playing pac man on their phone? Looks like they could have at least attempted to be conducting a real meeting while the photo was being taking.
“Quarm to conduct business is all five? That should be changed. LOL!”
The story says “The tax increase is so great that the state requires a unanimous vote of the body for approval”
An increase TO 151% of the current rate would be $1.51 for every current $1.
An increase BY 151% of the current rate would be the current 100% plus 151% more, or 251% times the current rate, $2.51 for every current $1.
The council is not the reason that Century is broke, but they do have the power to change the reasons why Century is broke. This is a situation that has been ongoing for years. Century is bringing in the revenue but where is it really going? Sometimes you may need to get independent auditors from the outside who has no connections to the Town to check your finances. Don’t just keep going with the status quo. Wake up!
I might not be a smart man but as I’ve said before put a toll booth smack dab in the middle of century and charge one dollar per car or truck ? a lot of people going to the beach on vacation see this area 1st ? it’s kind of like Mayberry n.c. put a f.h.p. station across the street . all residents can get a yearly sun pass it’s a win win for century. promote more business to the area . century needs to ask for help once the toll is in operation the town will slowly come back to life. don’t put the burden on the town . ( welcome to century ) rest station and toll booth ahead. **** end of story.
Until y’all get these dopeheads off the streets & clean up the town NO WAY. Gov. DeSantis will be personally faxed this proposal this morning.
As fast as the money comes in, Century wastes it. By the way, nice floors in the lobby.
Why does this town still bother to exist? What value does it provide to its citizens?
I think this group of people have lost their minds. They blow their budget with spending on unnecessary projects, and now increasing property taxes in order to make up for the waste. I really think that the people needs to step up to the bat and flat out tell to them where to go. Or perhaps do what another contributor suggested: DISSOLVE THE COUNCIL.
I wonder why it’s a failed town. I’m stumped .
>151% tax increase? Holy moly!
The council may vote but the moral thing to do is put it to a vote of the town residents.
While they’re at it, maybe they should vote on dissolving the town, too.
Century is a failed town.
Quarm to conduct business is all five? That should be changed. LOL!
“The clerk should check her charter. Has to go on the ballot.”
No. The proposed rate is under 1 mill, which is less than it was on the effective date of the charter.
“There shall be no additional ad valorem tax levied on the citizens of the town above and beyond the ad valorem tax rate in effect on the effective date of this charter unless and until any increase recommended by the town council has been approved by the majority of the qualified electors of the town in a referendum called for such purpose.”
The clerk should check her charter. Has to go on the ballot.