2006 Proposed property taxes

It seems like the county is raising taxes simply because they are able. Has there been a huge shortfall in the budget as of late? It seems with so many properties with new structures adding to the tax base that the higher dollar figure of taxes collected would easily cover any increase in cost of services. This seems to be double dipping to me. Shouldn't there be a basis for the justification to increase taxes? Just because a property value increases doesn't mean the cost to service the same property goes up as well. This seems to fall under the greed category like so many other things. Hasn't the tax revenue already increased markedly in recent years? Once a government agency has additional funds it is impossible to pare them back and if the county is raising taxes with no increase in costs that doesn't bode well for locals or part-timers. Maybe one of you in the know can tell us, where is the urgency to collect more funds coming from and where are these funds allocated?

Pirate dude..that was brilliant..I am in awe, man. That there is THE moral crux of the whole matter. You put your finger right on it.
There should be a reason for collecting more taxes. And there is'nt. There should be an inverse realtionship between increasing property values and the millage rate. And there is'nt. The county budget should be funded and no more. End of story.
Quad erat demonstratum.

It was the RE speculation and money grab that went on in Florida in just the last couple of years (helped along by the Easy Money Fed) that drove up property prices--which resulted in higher taxes.

Like Newton's Law #3: "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." Investing is about risk and reward....We all can rattle off in our sleep the substantial rewards of investing in Florida real estate, however, in a state whose motto is "WE HAVE NO STATE INCOME TAXES," dealing with non-homestead property taxes under Florida's rules is the "risk" side of the equation (along with other carry costs).

People are now saying that "homeowners insurance" is Florida's next "new state tax." The Price of Paradise just keeps going up. :blink:

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Tax cap saves homeowners $4 billion
Paul Flemming
News Journal capital bureau

TALLAHASSEE -- Floridians paid $26 billion in property taxes this year, with some residents sharing in a $4 billion break from the Save Our Homes cap.

That's an average $1,130 savings this year for homestead owners. The lost tax revenue gets made up by nonhomestead property, a shift that a governor's office analysis says raises the share of the property-tax burden by 19 percent on those taxpayers.

On Tuesday, Gov. Jeb Bush's Property Tax Reform Committee took the initial steps of a 15-month journey to make recommendations about the state's tax structure. The group is one of three taking a look at property taxes.

The Legislature this year rejected proposals that would make Save Our Homes protections against increasing assessed value portable to new homestead purchases. Instead, it ordered a study.

"I think the Legislature recognized it is a very complicated issue," said Don DeFosset, a retiree from Tampa who is chairman of the Bush committee. "It's not something you can quickly legislate and have a panacea."

The topic is complicated enough that the analyses presented Tuesday didn't go unchallenged. Ken Wilkinson, Lee County property appraiser and author of the Save Our Homes amendment passed by voters in 1992, said the proposition that property taxes get shifted to nonhomestead owners is wrong.

"If you did away with (Save Our Homes), it wouldn't mean others' (tax rates) would go down. It's that primary homeowners' would go up," Wilkinson said.

To sort it all out, Bush in June created his tax committee and charged it with making recommendations to both the Legislature and the tax and budget commission. A final report from the committee, after two interim reports, is due in December 2007.

"This will give the Legislature or the Constitutional Revision Commission that will convene in January ... some of the information so they can have a running start at it next year," Bush said Tuesday.

The constitution calls for a Taxation and Budget Reform Commission to convene in 2007 and review the state's tax policy.

Slow study and careful consideration may not be quick enough for homeowners.

Sen. Burt Saunders, a Naples Republican who's a member of the governor's committee, said that if the Legislature doesn't act to put a portability question on the ballot in 2008, a citizens' petition will. Saunders said lawmakers should take the lead.

"If the Legislature does it, we'll be able to put some restrictions on it," Saunders said. "If it's done by citizens' petition, it's likely to be wide open like Save Our Homes was."

Wilkinson said the constitutional amendment has worked exactly as planned. He said a petition drive to get portability on the ballot remains an option.

"I'm hopeful that Save Our Homes doesn't become a whipping boy," Winkinson told the committee. "It has done many wonderful things. I couldn't be prouder."

Bush's tax committee will begin a round of monthly public meetings around the state through the rest of the year. The schedule is still being worked out.

The last person you will ever hear requesting more taxes is me, but let me clarify a minor point. In the technical sense, WalCo did not "raise taxes." Rather, taxes were lowered. It is the assessed values which were increased due to the sales in 2005, which accounted for one of the largest price increases in property value ever. The milage rate (taxable rate) for Walton County has decreased for the last two years, and they are predicting a decrease this year. I have lived in a few towns, both large and small. Never before, have I lived in a town where the milage rate was as low as it is here. Currently, it is just under 1%. Most towns in which I have lived, have a milage rate of at least double that, if not close to triple that. Assessed values were ridiculously low in WalCo, up until last year when the assessed values of the majority of properties in WalCo finally came more in line with the reality of market value. I recall once owning a piece of land which I could have easily sold for $145K, and the assessed value was $15K. That is just one of many examples of the numerous properties which I have seen given a huge break, when looking at the Prop Appraiser's page. I think the growth of WalCo was too fast for the County to keep pace with, thus they were behind. Now, they have caught up, and the market has fallen back a bit, causing many property owners' assessed values to look out of whack to their own detriment. I bet you never heard these people complain when the difference was in their own favor. ;-) This is the first year, that we will see some unjust variances, weighing against us property owners, between the assessed value and actual market values.

I hope I have cleared that up a little bit for those of you not in the know. ;-) Please note that my statement above does not mean that I think WalCo gov't spends money correctly on services and parks for its taxpayers.

You are right SJ I should have stated raising valuations which in effect raises the amount of tax collected. The millage rate actually appears to be just over 1% and is much higher than most resort towns. In Palm County the rate is under .6%. Even the person from Walton County interviewed in the following article states the county doesn't need the money but they are raising the valuations anyway. If you raise the valuations and don't lower the millage rate that is raising taxes any way you technically cut it. If you raise valuations and don't need additional funds, lower the millage rate. It's just common sense. Once this money goes into the black hole of the government it will never come back

From the Walton Tribune:

County taxes set to increase

By Robbie Schwartz
The Walton Tribune

Published July 19, 2006

WALTON COUNTY ? Already hit with an expected increase in their tax bill due to a rise in needs of the Walton County Board of Education, county residents can expect another increase as a result of county taxes as well.

But while taxes will increase, county officials say it is more so because of the increase in property values rather than the county needing more money to operate.

?We have done a good job over the past six years to keep the millage rate the same,? Walton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Kevin Little said. ?But the increase in the tax rate is because property values increased as a whole throughout the county.?

The Commission voted to keep the millage rate at 9.585 for those in Loganville, Monroe and Social Circle and at 10.064 for everyone else in the county.

The disparity is based on who provides fire services.

Keeping the millage rate the same as last year generates an increase of 0.97 percent over the rollback rate for the fire districts of Monroe, Loganville and Social Circle and 2.81 percent for the rest of the County. Overall, officials said keeping the millage rate the same instead of using the rollback rate generates a ?much needed? $2.28 million increase (10.24 percent) in tax revenue.

The county has adopted a $44.79 million budget, an increase of more than $2.2 million over last year?s final budget.

The bulk of the increase comes as a result of capital needs of the county, where Little said that if the county made a cut this year, ?these needs would continue to re-surface.?

Some of the 38 capital needs that were granted in the FY?07 budget include eight new patrol cars for the Walton County Sheriff?s Office at a projected cost of $160,000; work on the Public Works Department building that necessitated $75,000 for improvements; re-mounts for EMS vehicles projected to cost $140,000; and to facilitate the ability to pay tax bills online, officials allocated $7,500 to get a service up and running that will allow taxpayers to search, view and pay their bill online.

Little said the county has put a freeze on all new hires for the county and personnel increases in the budget were a result of cost of living adjustments.

In addition, Little said the county has allocated some money to provide for a staffing and market analysis to see if the pay and number of people per department is on par with counties around Walton.

Perhaps one of the biggest increases for the budget came as a result of fuel costs.

Gas as a whole constituted 10.8 percent of the FY06 budget while this year it comprises 17 percent of the proposed FY07 budget for a tally of $740,500.

This year, officials based budget costs on $2.90 ? and that may not even be enough as gas prices are projected to be more at more than $3 a gallon in the coming months.

The exact dollar amount of the resulting millage rate increase would depend on the increased value of a given home

You are right SJ I should have stated raising valuations which in effect raises the amount of tax collected. The millage rate actually appears to be just over 1% and is much higher than most resort towns. In Palm County the rate is under .6%. Even the person from Walton County interviewed in the following article states the county doesn't need the money but they are raising the valuations anyway. If you raise the valuations and don't lower the millage rate that is raising taxes any way you technically cut it. If you raise valuations and don't need additional funds, lower the millage rate. It's just common sense. Once this money goes into the black hole of the government it will never come back

From the Walton Tribune:

County taxes set to increase

By Robbie Schwartz
The Walton Tribune

Published July 19, 2006

WALTON COUNTY ? Already hit with an expected increase in their tax bill due to a rise in needs of the Walton County Board of Education, county residents can expect another increase as a result of county taxes as well.

But while taxes will increase, county officials say it is more so because of the increase in property values rather than the county needing more money to operate.

?We have done a good job over the past six years to keep the millage rate the same,? Walton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Kevin Little said. ?But the increase in the tax rate is because property values increased as a whole throughout the county.? (sj's notes: someone doesn't understand taxes, or he is misquoted.;-) I could see why readers would think that this is not rightful.)

The Commission voted to keep the millage rate at 9.585 for those in Loganville, Monroe and Social Circle and at 10.064 for everyone else in the county.

The disparity is based on who provides fire services.

Keeping the millage rate the same as last year generates an increase of 0.97 percent over the rollback rate for the fire districts of Monroe, Loganville and Social Circle and 2.81 percent for the rest of the County. Overall, officials said keeping the millage rate the same instead of using the rollback rate generates a ?much needed? $2.28 million increase (10.24 percent) in tax revenue.

The county has adopted a $44.79 million budget, an increase of more than $2.2 million over last year?s final budget.

The bulk of the increase comes as a result of capital needs of the county, where Little said that if the county made a cut this year, ?these needs would continue to re-surface.?

Some of the 38 capital needs that were granted in the FY?07 budget include eight new patrol cars for the Walton County Sheriff?s Office at a projected cost of $160,000; work on the Public Works Department building that necessitated $75,000 for improvements; re-mounts for EMS vehicles projected to cost $140,000; and to facilitate the ability to pay tax bills online, officials allocated $7,500 to get a service up and running that will allow taxpayers to search, view and pay their bill online.

Little said the county has put a freeze on all new hires for the county and personnel increases in the budget were a result of cost of living adjustments.

In addition, Little said the county has allocated some money to provide for a staffing and market analysis to see if the pay and number of people per department is on par with counties around Walton.

Perhaps one of the biggest increases for the budget came as a result of fuel costs.

Gas as a whole constituted 10.8 percent of the FY06 budget while this year it comprises 17 percent of the proposed FY07 budget for a tally of $740,500.

This year, officials based budget costs on $2.90 ? and that may not even be enough as gas prices are projected to be more at more than $3 a gallon in the coming months.

The exact dollar amount of the resulting millage rate increase would depend on the increased value of a given home.

Pirate, now that is funny. :floor: I may have to call you "Shelly," for pulling articles off the web which don't apply appropriately. We don't have a newspaper by that name. The article which you pulled, must be applicable to Walton Co, GA since the towns mentioned happen to be in Walton Co, GA. Also, Kevin Little, the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners whom is quoted is not on our Board. Our Chairman is Scott Brannon. Not to mention, our tax rates did not increase. Two years ago, the milage was just over 12 mills. Now they are at 9+ mills, and they are talking about lowering them again since the assessed values have increased.

No harm, no foul. ;-)

Heh.:oops: I will leave the post up in it's entirety then to entertain people. I still think the millage rate should be lowered.

Pirate dude..that was brilliant..I am in awe, man. That there is THE moral crux of the whole matter. You put your finger right on it.
There should be a reason for collecting more taxes. And there is'nt. There should be an inverse realtionship between increasing property values and the millage rate. And there is'nt. The county budget should be funded and no more. End of story.
Quad erat demonstratum.

Finally we agree on something! :clap_1:

if I didnt make sense...I meant i wish they would value it even lower. I just meant that the totals they are coming up with are so wrong....

Heh.:oops: I will leave the post up in it's entirety then to entertain people. I still think the millage rate should be lowered.

Pirate, I was entertained by the content. My godson wrote better articles in his freshman year at Boston University! ;-)

Heh.:oops: I will leave the post up in it's entirety then to entertain people. I still think the millage rate should be lowered.

Me too! Anyone who wants us to increase the millage rate, please raise your hand so that we can publicly stone you. Kurt, do you have any stoned smilies which we can use?:funn:

Pirate, I like you sense of humor. If you cannot laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at. You've got character. 😀

I guess shelly really didn't know what I meant. Of course I dont want my value to be raised up to my neighbors. I think they should all be lowered even more. I was stating that the values were all over the place and gave that example. I couldn't sell my house in this market for $740K if I tried. They over assessed me, but they practically raped my neighbor.

I guess shelly really didn't know what I meant. Of course I dont want my value to be raised up to my neighbors. I think they should all be lowered even more. I was stating that the values were all over the place and gave that example. I couldn't sell my house in this market for $740K if I tried. They over assessed me, but they practically raped my neighbor.

I believe the disconnect came when you mentioned in your post that you were going to petition your tax rate--even though it was lower than your neighbor's, who had a house inferior to your own.

For your own protection, you may want to check with everyone on the block, because if you go down there alone, you may let loose the tax hounds who will sniff out some more "best kept secrets" in the 'hood. ;-)

Otherwise, I feel that taxes should be fair and equitable for everyone who owns property in the area. We may not live there full time as of yet, but surely have a vested interest in what goes on politically in all aspects.

The people who bought for the long run, or have second homes DO have a vested interest in the area. Just because fiscally they can not live there full time, doesn't mean that they don't care.

Amen!

Got our proposed tax bill for a property we own in Santa Rosa and it went down a little - still nothing on the condos - but I am sure they will be in the mail soon as well.

While 2nd homeowners and investors should pay more than those in a primary residence (which they do if they have no homestead exemption), any attempts 'stick it to the interlopers' as it were could backfire. Whether it is a primary home or not, a luxury or not, increasing taxes and insurance on those folks to unreasonable levels does not do anyone any good either. Many of the 2nd homeowners have owned in the area for a long time and are no more speculating that someone with a primary residence. They may have a reasonable mortgage and enough income to support the property, but if you tax everyone out of the market, which home do you think is going to go up for sale or into foreclosure? Not the primary residence, wherever it may be. And of course while that would not be as serious as someone losing their primary residence, a bunch of foreclosures/defaults/properties for sale doesn't help the local economy either.

Face it, the area is a tourist area and is supported to a great deal by 2nd homeowners and renters of those properties.

Totally agree... great statements.

my property taxes are 30% more this year than last year. Homeowner insurance on a double wide trailer that cost $30,000 altogether was $120 a month for me, my insurance carrier notified me that it will be triple this year. $360 a month to insure a trailer in defuniak?????!!!!!!
does anyone know of a better insurance company?

better insurance company? Isn't that an oxymoron?

my property taxes are 30% more this year than last year. Homeowner insurance on a double wide trailer that cost $30,000 altogether was $120 a month for me, my insurance carrier notified me that it will be triple this year. $360 a month to insure a trailer in defuniak?????!!!!!!
does anyone know of a better insurance company?

I met someone last week who is facing the same thing. Her doublewide in Citrus County was up for renewal by Citizens and it was going to cost her $3300/year. She dropped it and talked to her mortgage company about getting insurance only for the amount of the balance of her mortgage, and they found her such a policy. Saved her a lot but offers very little protection. :(

There are lots of things going on in Tallahassee(gov and legislature). Ya'll might think about contacting your representatives and writing the governor
with your insurance concerns.


Even those who are not Florida residents have the ability to make an impact on our leadership because of the tourism/second home economy factors.

Just a thought--let those who have the power to make a difference, know how you feel! (in another life, I was a lobbyist):😀

For anyone planning an appeal for the taxes, if you need some comps pulled on closed sales or listings which haven't sold at prices higher than your assessed value, feel free to ask me, and I will help you when I am able. I am uncertain if it will carry any weight in your appeal, but you can use it if you feel it will help state your side of the case.