Month: September 2020

Today, September 23, 2020, the city commission voted 4-1 (Mayor Leary voted “no”) to finalize the millage rate for 2020-2021 at 4.0923, unchanged from last year and below the rate of 4.5623 they voted for in July. Based on increases in taxable valuations from the Orange County Appraiser, homestead property will still see a typical increase of 2.3% and non-homestead property will see a 10% increase in property taxes. As at the September 9th meeting, Mayor Leary again made the motion to lower the 2020-2021 millage rate to the “roll back” rate which would generate the same property tax revenue…

Less Tax Increase: As anticipated, yesterday the commission reversed their July 22 vote to increase the millage rate 11.5%, voting to keep the rate constant at 4.0923. Based on increases in taxable valuations from the Orange County Appraiser, this means homestead property will still see a typical increase of 2.3% and non-homestead property will see a 10% increase with the unchanged millage rate. Mayor Leary proposed lowering the millage rate to keep property tax revenue the same as 2020 which none of the other commission members supported. There was a difference of opinion on lowering the millage rate below last…

From commission meeting minutes, millage rate vote July 22, 2020: Your emails and yard signs have made a difference. Two of the four commission members who voted to increase the property tax rate by 11.5% in July have now publicly reversed themselves. Sheila DeCicco now says she has, “no plans to vote for an increase to the City’s millage rate.” Marty Sullivan now says, “Good news, it seems we will not need to increase the property tax rate. The old rate looks to be the appropriate rate, 4.0923 millage rate.” (as if there was ever a credible justification for an…