Escambia BOCC Tentatively Approves Static Millage Rate, Defined By State As Tax Increase

September 7, 2022

The Escambia County Commission Tuesday night gave tentative approval to a static property tax rate for next fiscal year, which is defined by the state as a tax increase.

The proposed millage rate is 7.4679, which is not an increased millage rate but is a 13.20% increase over the rolled back rate of 6.5969 mills.

The rolled back rate is a computed millage rate that would generate the same amount of ad valorem tax dollars as the prior fiscal year, based on the proposed year’s tax roll, excluding new construction. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the State of Florida as a tax increase and must be advertised as such.

“I’m very happy that we are leaving the millage rate static; that provides a little revenue based upon the growth of the tax roll,” Commission Chairman Jeff Bergosh said. “Keeping the millage rate static provides the additional revenue necessary for us to provide raises to our first responders and our employees, and keep up with the inflation that we are dealing with.”

“We have not raised the millage rate in all the years (of service by current board members), so that’s fiscal prudence that I’m proud to say we’ve done,” Commissioner Lumon May said.

The BOCC will hold a second public hearing later this month to adopt their budget for fiscal year 2022-2023.

Comments

12 Responses to “Escambia BOCC Tentatively Approves Static Millage Rate, Defined By State As Tax Increase”

  1. Mr.Metoo on September 8th, 2022 7:49 am

    How does this affect the amount paid last year? If its not a major change them stop complaining. If you are not paying then shhh.

  2. The Patriot on September 8th, 2022 7:08 am

    Sounds like a win win for the BOCC. Get monies from home developers then ”Tax”" the constituents for the manufactured shortfall.

  3. Ed on September 8th, 2022 12:55 am

    One of the consequences of Rick Scott doing away with impact fees. Instead of putting more of the burden on the influx of new ‘development’, those who have lived here for decades, their whole lives even, are having their taxes raised.

  4. Js on September 8th, 2022 12:38 am

    Vote them out!

  5. Gene on September 7th, 2022 11:46 pm

    Comm. Bergosh… the State defines it as a tax increase- BERGOSH, YOU ARE RAISING TAXES. Life long republican here and I will campaign against you? We the people have to live in our means SO SHOULD YOU!

  6. ensley boy on September 7th, 2022 8:26 pm

    When ecua announced a rate hike I said they opened the door. FPL going up, property taxes going up, now its time for the city of Pensacola to raise their gas prices. Glad I will be getting that BIG raise on my social security next year. {sic}

  7. Ed on September 7th, 2022 1:08 pm

    Well… Trying to explain the raise in a more positive way is just an attempt to blow a smoke screen and cover up the fact that it is a RAISE!! We are all doing more with less, much less… so who helps us fight inflation Commissioners? We are all dealing with higher costs for food, medications, gasoline and utilities. FPL’s attempted to also explain their power rate increase by telling us that they are doing so much to improve our community that we should all be happy to pay and pay and pay some more their service. Rubbish, all of it!

  8. Anne on September 7th, 2022 12:33 pm

    @ tg …
    Right On with your observation. Lots of folks put their $80,000 home on sale for $150,000 and the neighborhood prices for homes jumped up too.
    Now that their home value has Increased they’re surprised to find the Taxes have also gone up.

  9. tg on September 7th, 2022 8:54 am

    You had to know with the price of your home doubling your taxes would follow.

  10. Craig S. on September 7th, 2022 7:35 am

    So they increased the tax by 13.20%, but are proud of the fact that they’re not increasing the tax. Sounds about right. Ugh!

    If it was rolled back to 6.5969 mills, then that’s the new rate. You can’t justify it by saying that we’re just putting it back where it was. That’s not “static.”

  11. SW on September 7th, 2022 7:11 am

    Every one of you needs to be voted out. As if things aren’t getting more expensive, y’all are going to add to it.
    The tax assessor’s office gets no pass, either.

  12. DW on September 7th, 2022 6:30 am

    TAXES VOTE THEM OUT