As summer fast approaches, so does one of the more exciting times in city government â€" the annual budget hearings.
Some key dates to keep in mind are June 3 and July 15.
After a reprieve from the usual May deadline, the first is when the Mayor’s Office has to send a preliminary budget to the City Council, and July 15 is when the final budget is due.
After that is when the council’s Finance Committee starts picking apart the budget, which has to be finalized and balanced by the start of the new fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
It looks like we are going to have the same unusual situation as we did last year.
Florida’s Truth in Millage law requires local governments to outline what the property tax rate would have to be to produce the same amount of ad valorem taxes as the previous year.
That’s become known as the “rollback rate†because during usual times increasing property values would require a lower millage rate to keep the revenue the same.
Last year, however, because property values took a beating in the Great Recession, a millage rate increase would have been required to keep revenues neutral.
With Mayor Alvin Brown’s campaign pledge to never raise taxes and council members nervous about even a sniff of a tax increase, the millage rate was kept the same, and about $22.5 million was left on the table.
Not taking that money left parks and roadways poorly maintained, street lights turned off and libraries closed.
It looks like the same situation could happen for the upcoming budget year.
Property Appraiser Jim Overton said this week that projections are overall property values will drop 2.5 percent.
That number could change, but Overton said it has been pretty consistent as his office puts together the tax rolls.
One of the reasons for the drop, he said, is homesteaded property protected by the Save Our Homes amendment to the state Constitution.
That amendment limits the annual increase in the assessed value of a primary residence to 3 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.
For the current budget year, 3 percent was the factor used in the calculation. For the upcoming budget, it will be 1.7 percent.
All in all, that means if Brown and the council don’t go with what’s become known as the “roll-up rate,†it would mean about $11.5 million less in revenue compared to this year.
I know that taxes are anathema to Brown and many of the council members, but at some point we have to get away from being a city done on the cheap if we want to have a quality of life that attracts people and jobs here.
Our property tax rate â€" the lowest among major Florida cities â€" has resulted in closed libraries, poorly maintained infrastructure, parks that lack adequate access, a reduced police force, increased fire and rescue times and a struggling downtown.
We can do better, and we should.
As I said, exciting times â€" the city budget hearings â€" are ahead. And let me add, important times.
http://members.jacksonville.com/opinion/premium/blog/455124/ron-littlepage/2013-05-15/ron-littlepage-exciting-times-near-settling-tax-rates
Well said, Mr. Littlepage. Unfortunately, the taxophobics in the Mayor's Office and on City Council will continue to take Jacksonville to the Next Level Down.
Agree with Ron on this one. I have been saying it for years. But zero chance of it happening now with an a mayor who is coming under more scrutiny running for reelection and our spineless city council.
Quote from: John P on May 15, 2013, 09:13:29 AM
Our property tax rate â€" the lowest among major Florida cities â€" has resulted in closed libraries, poorly maintained infrastructure, parks that lack adequate access, a reduced police force, increased fire and rescue times and a struggling downtown.
We can do better, and we should.
I completely agree. We get what we pay for, and that's not much. I'm going to reiterate the unpopular opinion: we need to raise property taxes in this City,
even just slightly. Spending the money wisely goes without saying and applies to current tax revenues as well. I obviously support the notion that the government, at all levels, could be better stewards of our resources.
I'm from NJ, where taxes (property and income) are
too high. When I moved here I was shocked at how little property taxes were, and still are. While I enjoy keeping a little bit extra cash in my pocket, after living here for 6 years, I believe that
one of the reasons for closed libraries, poorly maintained infrastructure, schools that lack adequate funding, etc is because of the low property taxes in this City.
Don't misconstrue my position, I don't enjoy paying taxes. However, I do enjoy having basic public services, and hate when my wife, a teacher, tells me her school doesn't have enough money for paper towels, soap and toilette paper.
^^well said. I feel the exact same way.
Friendly, well-intentioned suggestion to all, just because I've seen it a few times on the site:
Probably a better idea to post your own synopsis rather than full text from the T-U's members-only site. I'd hate to see the T-U come after anyone personally, or MJ, for copyright violation.
Though, I must admit, it is rather nice to meet one of the T-U's elusive all-access members :)
Was just in Omaha, NE and was thoroughly impressed by how clean it was, its many well maintained urban parks, its revitalized (and thriving) historic districts, corporate sponsorship within the community, etc. I did 30 second research, and well, in addition to housing some large corporations who are rather large local corporate citizens (not to mention Berkshire Hathaway), it also charges some of the highest property tax rates in the country! Frankly, as a visitor Omaha was far more impressive to me than my visits to Jax (and I come with no expectations to the former and low expectations of Jax whereby I'm usually pleasantly surprised by the latter using a lower bar, but I was even more pleasantly suprised by Omaha using a higher "neutral" bar).
personal property tax rate in Douglas County is also pretty insane. Not really looking to pay that much to live in fecking Nebraska.
Quote from: simms3 on May 15, 2013, 03:09:58 PM
Was just in Omaha, NE and was thoroughly impressed by how clean it was, its many well maintained urban parks, its revitalized (and thriving) historic districts, corporate sponsorship within the community, etc. I did 30 second research, and well, in addition to housing some large corporations who are rather large local corporate citizens (not to mention Berkshire Hathaway), it also charges some of the highest property tax rates in the country! Frankly, as a visitor Omaha was far more impressive to me than my visits to Jax (and I come with no expectations to the former and low expectations of Jax whereby I'm usually pleasantly surprised by the latter using a lower bar, but I was even more pleasantly suprised by Omaha using a higher "neutral" bar).
Next time you visit, I'll be sure to call ahead for you and make sure the silver tableware at O'Brothers is polished to your liking. We wouldn't want that already low bar to hit the floor would we?
^^^LOL
We get what we pay for. Takes money to make money. Etc.
I think many residents would gladly pay slightly higher taxes for a higher quality of life. We just aren't as loud, organized, or passionate about it as tea party types.
Frankly, I think the problem is that we don't get what we pay for. If we did, then I agree most people would not grumble at all about a tax increase that was truly needed. Heck, I think that has been proven thoughout the years by the taxpayers voting in extra taxes for schools and the like. However, when the illustrious city council removes income by cutting the mobility fee, when they try to do things like close metro park ticketed events and when they consistently remove tax generating housing stock for some unknown reason, then why on earth would I ever want to give them one more penny of my money? I would rather find someone in need and give it to them directly. At least then I know it went for something worthwhile.
Now, give me city leadership that actually has a clue and cares about something other than themselves (I know there are a few exceptions who do care...), I would certainly change my tune.
Currently I would be a bit nervous giving more money to those in charge. Maybe more council positions will improve with new faces and a different mayor. Then I would be more inclined to pay more.
Given what I've heard through the grapevine, there may not be much spending soon. Crap is about to get crazy. That's all I can say.
I suspect that most tax payers are willing to pay more in taxes if they perceive that what is already being paid is being used wisely. As spending decisions approach idiocy, such as in unnecessary wars and other wastes on the national scene, and useless infrastructures and other boondoggles on the local scene, most people simply don't want to contribute more funds, as doing so will perpetuate the idiocies.
My post was pulled. At least I haven't been banned. Jax Pack meeting at Chamblin's in two hours.
Quote from: RiversideLoki on May 15, 2013, 09:35:19 PM
Given what I've heard through the grapevine, there may not be much spending soon. Crap is about to get crazy. That's all I can say.
When in doubt cut to the bone and through it! Who needs 2 arms anyways.