MILLAGE RATE
SET;
TAXES LOWER
Sarasota, FL: The City Commission approved
the preliminary millage rate yesterday for the 2008-09 fiscal
year, lowering the overall millage which will result in savings
for homeowners with Homestead exemptions. The preliminary
millage rate is set citywide at 3.1062, a 1.9% decrease from
last year.
The effect of the lower millage rate will be lower tax bills
for homeowners with Homestead exemptions. For example:
• $299,954 (average assessed value):
$94.14 minimum savings
• $200,000 assessed value: $88.14 minimum savings
• $500,000 assessed value: $106.14 minimum savings
• $2,000,000 assessed value: $196.15 minimum savings
The preliminary millage
rate will be transmitted to the Sarasota County Property Appraiser, who will
compile all
proposed millage rates for individual properties and
issue a TRIM (Truth in Millage) notice later this summer. Taxing
authorities, including the City of Sarasota, cannot
raise preliminary millage rates once they are established.
The City Commission approved the preliminary
millage rate following two days of budget workshops this
week. (Click to view the July
22 workshop or July
23 workshop.) The proposed 2008-09 total budget is
$178.4 million --- down
$5.7 million from last year. The complete proposed budget
can be viewed on the City’s website: www.sarasotagov.com.
Members of the public interested in speaking about the budget
are invited to do so during the budget public hearings scheduled
for Wed., September 3rd and Mon., September 15th at 6pm.
|
