Property Taxes Unchanged as County Budget Gets OK

Manatee County Commissioners voted Wednesday to keep the property tax rate for the new budget year the same as last year, noting that several other governmental taxing entities were increasing the property tax rate.

The commissioners unanimously voted to maintain a millage rate equaling 6.2993 per $1,000 of taxable property value in the unincorporated parts of the county. Property owners in municipalities pay a slightly lower county rate for services cites provide and are paid for with city taxes. The county has had a 6.2993 rate since 2008.

Commissioner Robin DiSabatino said the City of Sarasota raised its tax rate, and Chairwoman Carol Whitmore said the City of Holmes Beach was planning on a tax hike to meet its revenue shortfalls.

But for some, holding the line on county property taxes was not enough.

Two Holmes Beach residents who spoke during the citizen comments portion of the special meeting said unlike the majority of property owners in the county, their taxes were increasing.

Alan Miller, who moved to the island in January, said he paid about $60,000 for his home, but the property appraiser assessed it at more than $100,000.

Chard Winheim said he would like to see the commissioners reduce the property tax rate.

County Administrator Ed Hunzeker said any increases could be due to the other government rates on individuals’ tax bills, such as municipalities, the school board and fire districts.

“This Board of County Commissioners is reducing the tax burden by almost $7 million,” Hunzeker said after the meeting. “Taxes may not go down, but the county commission budget is only a portion of the tax bill.”

But property owner Carl Hoffman said his taxes were going up $800 this year. Recent tax or TRIM notices included a proposed increase in the millage rate for both school and county budgets after both boards approved increasing the tentative millage rates earlier this year.

Since then the county ironed out a compromise with Sheriff Brad Steube, who wanted a budget increase to hire 20 additional deputies, 10 for the jail and 10 for road patrol. Instead, commissioners found a way to pay for 10 deputies without raising taxes.

The commission should “sharpen their pencils” and find more places to trim the $462.3 million budget, Hoffman said.

He said the country is facing a double dip recession and Manatee County is not exempt from the affects of this economy, where people have not received pay raises in years.

Two community leaders asked the commissioners to reconsider the funding cuts their organizations will receive in the coming budget fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1.

Adell Erozer, executive director of the Community Coalition on Homelessness in Manatee County, said she knows it is a tough year for budgets, but argued for the same funding as last year, rather than the budgeted 5 percent cut.

“We’re seeing an enormous number of people (at the on 17th Avenue West),” Erozer said. “There was a record number of 180 new clients in August.”

She suggested that if the money was not available to maintain the same level of funding as last year, the commissioners should consider providing in-kind services, such as free bus passes for people going to work.

Luz Corcuera, a member of the board of directors for METV, requested commissioners look at restoring the funding levels for the local television production organization, “considering the wonderful work METV provides the community.”

Commissioner Joe McClash said he would like to revisit the funding for these two organizations, noting that amendments to the budget can be made after it is approved. The other commissioners agreed that the issues should be discussed at a future meeting.

Commissioner Larry Bustle said the commission should consider the value of the services the organizations provide to the county.

“With the homeless coalition, it’s if you don’t pay now, you’ll pay later,” Bustle said.

Commissioners John Chappie and Donna Hayes asked that the board should also examine funding for .

During the process of developing the new budget, maintaining the same property tax rate as last year was always a priority.

In June, Steube asked for a spending increase of about $4.1 million for 20 new positions. He also wanted to give his staff a 3 percent raise.

In talks with the sheriff, Hunzeker reached an agreement to pay for 10 new positions, to keep the property tax rate level.

To achieve the same property tax rate, Jim Seuffert, director of the county Department of Financial Management, and his staff, had to find $6.9 million in cuts because of revenue shortfalls. Taxable property values were down 4 percent, from $24.8 billion to $23.8 billion, over last year, according to a chart Seuffert presented to the board.

Along with major operational funding cuts in county departments, 94 positions were eliminated, either through early retirements, layoffs or attrition.

In another chart, Seuffert showed how Manatee County property owners pay lower taxes and fees than those in the three surrounding counties of Sarasota, Hillsborough and Pinellas.

The county commission will hold a second and final public hearing, as required by state statue, to approve the property tax rate and budget. That meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Sept. 15, in the at the Manatee County Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Ave. W.