AGENDA ITEM REPORT
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AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE CITY’S OPERATING PROPERTY TAX AT 6.5378 MILLS FOR THE 2018 FISCAL YEAR. (SECOND PUBLIC HEARING)
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BACKGROUND:
This item was approved on First Reading at the September 13, 2017, City Commission Meeting.
This Ordinance will establish the City’s operating ad valorem millage rate for the 2017 property tax roll. The 6.5378 millage rate is a 16.18% increase over the roll back rate of 5.6272 computed in accordance with state law and represents a 6.53% increase over the current rate of 6.1370.
DISCUSSION:
This Public Hearing must be held in order to comply with Section 200.065, Florida Statues (commonly known as the TRIM Bill). In order to fully comply with this law, the hearing must be conducted in a manner that is conducive to input from City residents on the ad valorem rate and any portion of the budget. The meeting should follow the general format shown below.
Once the Ordinance title is read, the Director of Finance and Administrative Services will make a brief presentation of the budget process followed to date, which must include:
1. The currently proposed millage rate of 6.5378, the rate proposed when the proposed FY18 Budget was published on July 27, 2017. The Director of Finance and Administrative Services will also state that the 6.5378 millage rate represents a 16.18% increase over the roll back rate of 5.6272 and is a 6.53% increase over the current rate of 6.1370, the rate included on the Notice of Proposed Property Tax. The 6.53% increase over the current rate of 6.1370 will generate approximately $1,500,000 more in Ad Valorem revenue, which is expected to fund the City operation of emergency 911 Dispatch Services currently provided by the County.
2. The millage rate and budget are tentative and subject to change during this meeting.
3. The public is encouraged to discuss any portion of the budget or the ad valorem rate. However, if necessary, the City will establish a maximum time for each speaker of three minutes in order to ensure that all interested parties have the opportunity to be heard.
Once these statements are made, the Public Hearing will be declared open. Anyone in attendance must be given the opportunity to speak on the issue of the budget or ad valorem rate.
Once all individuals who wish to speak have been heard, the City Commission can, if they desire, amend the budget and/or reduce the ad valorem rate. Prior to closing the Public Hearing, an announcement must be made that the tentative millage rate for operations is 6.5378 mills. The Director of Finance and Administrative Services will again point out that this rate represents a 6.53% increase over the current rate and a 16.18% increase over the rollback rate.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this Ordinance.
FISCAL IMPACT: N/A