In the budge workshop on Aug. 22, Sanibel City Council directed staff to prepare the Fiscal Year 2024 proposed budget using the General Fund operating millage rate of 2.5064 mills. This a reduction from the maximum millage rate of 2.9598 Council approved in its July 18 meeting.
Local governments are required by Florida Statutes to set a maximum millage rate for the upcoming budget cycle by Aug. 4 and to transmit this information to the County Property Appraiser for certification. Once millage rates are certified, the County Property Appraiser can distribute the Trim Notice as required by Florida Statutes.
The Trim Notice informs taxpayers the maximum amount of taxes independent taxing authorities (counties, cities, fire districts, etc.) can levy against properties for the upcoming tax year. Taxing authorities cannot increase the millage rate beyond the maximum millage rate that is certified by the Property Appraiser, but they may lower it in their adopted budgets.
Following a staff presentation on the FY24 draft budget, which included options for the final millage rate, Council, by consensus, directed staff to use the millage rate of 2.5064 mills. This means the tax rate Council may approve at the Sept. 11 and Sept. 27 Budget Hearings will be lower than the City of Sanibel millage rate shown on the Trim Notice each Sanibel taxpayer will receive.
To calculate how much lower the city’s taxes will be for individual property owners compared to what is shown on the Trim Notice, click here.
Did the Sanibel City Council explain the rationale of approving in rate in July and a significantly reduced millage in August? One can only question the sincerity of the initial millage rate.
It is apparent that many Sanibel taxpayers were quite upset, and rightly so, in raising homeowner taxes in this economic climate. One can only wonder the sincerity of both the July approval and the August recalculation. Why not just leave the millage rate where it was?
Private citizens have to do more with less in this inflationary economic cycle, shouldn’t government entities?
Less people living on the Island require less services and corresponding less of a municipal budget. There should be no frills in this years budget.
Reality has sunk in for the taxpayers, hopefully it will for the politicians.