September is budget season in Palmetto Bay. The decisions made
for this budget will impact the municipal services you receive, how
much you pay in taxes and, if the decisions are not controlled, can
lead to far-reaching impact on future budget commitments through
increased recurring budget commitments (Budget Creep).
As I always do, I have asked the Village Manager to post the proposed budget online once it is complete. Manager Ed Silva has committed to having the proposed draft budget posted online no later than the end of the day, this Friday, August 3rd. I will provide the link in a future e-news as well as posted here in my blog.
I led the charge to reduce taxes for
the 2016 -2017 budget year 2.3292 (not an election year) after having
barely missed a reduction the year prior (I was voted down, being part
of the 2-3 vote minority, a single vote short of reducing taxes for
that prior year). Our current budget (FY 2017-18) remained at that
reduced millage rate of 2.3292.
I was the sole sponsor of resolution 2018-85 - which set the Maximum Millage rate at our current 2.3292.
I felt the need to sponsor my own property tax Maximum Millage
resolution as the administration had proposed an increased working
property tax rate of 2.4659. I could not support even
the discussion of raising our property tax rate. Now we can REDUCE
our property tax rate further as the budget process moves forward in
adopting the 2018-19 budget, without fear that the village council will
raise the property tax rate. Note that my resolution was unanimously
approved 5-0.
Property Taxes add up -
the Palmetto Bay property tax is a small part of your overall tax
bill. All the different taxes add up. Palmetto Bay may have property
tax millage rate of 2.3292, but the overall total includes more than
just the municipal tax; your property tax bill also includes School Board Millages (Operating & Debt) , Regional Millages (SFWMD, Evr. Proj., Okeechobee Basin & FIND) and County Wide Millages (County, Debt, Fire & Rescue, Fire Dept & Library). The overall property tax millage rate for Palmetto Bay is 18.2930.
Several budget workshops were held in July
- but note that the important steps are the actual budget hearings to
be held in September. Our budget is adopted as an ordinance, it is
passed in a first, then second reading. The actual decisions are made
at these hearings.
Here are the applicable hearing dates (follow the links to official Palmetto Bay information):
FIRST BUDGET HEARING - Wednesday, September 12, 2018, 7:00 PM
SECOND BUDGET HEARING - Monday, September 24, 2018, 7:00 PM
I am committed to reviewing every portion of our village
budget. The budget process will be the time that we review the
services we receive and whether Palmetto Bay remains committed to
"Government Lite". This is OUR money, YOUR money, and you need to stay
involved.
Total property tax millage (all taxing authorities): Please CLICK HERE
to view the complete table of 2017 ADOPTED MILLAGE RATES for all taxing
entities that impact your property tax bill. As you can see, a little
increase 'here and there' will have a big overall impact on your total
property tax bill.
What is additional, not covered above?
Water & Sewer as well as Garbage Collection fees - both County
Fees as well as Stormwater fees collected by each municipality.
Please begin your own review and contact me via e-mail at eflinn@palmettobay-fl.gov or via phone at (305) 302-3713 to discuss.
For more background, please see my post of September 29, 2016: Palmetto Bay Mayor & Council approve the lowest property tax millage rate in Village history - 2.3292 mills.
Note that I attempt to reduce our property tax rate each and every
year. Why? I keeps our budget from expanding due to years Palmetto Bay
receives an increase in revenue (also known as 'budget creep').
I
continue to lead for government lite, strong finances, quality
facilities and programing, responsible budgets, and preventing budget
creep.
Your Mayor,
Eugene Flinn
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