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Here4Good

Beach Fanatic
Jul 10, 2006
1,269
527
Point Washington
Property Taxes going up after all

In this morning's NWFDN:

Walton increasing property taxes | taxes, beach, walton - News - Northwest Florida Daily News

"Walton County commissioners agreed to bump up the property tax rate Tuesday to ensure a balanced budget for fiscal 2009-10. Walton County Finance Director Bill Imfeld told commissioners at their meeting that the tax rate needed to go up to 3.4076 mills, or slightly less than $3.41 for every $1,000 of taxable property value. That?s because the board?s approval Sept. 28 of a millage rate of 3.3563 and a nearly $101 million budget was based on a countywide taxable property value of almost $14 billion, he said."


It looks like the Taxpayer's Association is checking into the legality of this, increasing the millage after public hearings, but it probably is, there is a section of state law which allows for a small adjustment such as this when the tax rolls come up short.


It seems a LOT of people challenged their assessments - look for the tax assessment to be even lower next year.
 

Busta Hustle

Beach Fanatic
Apr 11, 2007
434
34

Smiling JOe

SoWal Expert
Nov 18, 2004
31,648
1,773
and there are another 500+ contested values which will still come before the Value Adjustment Board, as I understand it.

Here is some really meaning -- For a $200,000 assessed home, the slight increase in millage will mean you pay $8 additional for the year.
 

Andy A

Beach Fanatic
Feb 28, 2007
4,389
1,738
Blue Mountain Beach
and there are another 500+ contested values which will still come before the Value Adjustment Board, as I understand it.

Here is some really meaning -- For a $200,000 assessed home, the slight increase in millage will mean you pay $8 additional for the year.
If you own a $200,000 home and you can't afford $8 a year to maintain a balanced budget...something we are railing at Congress about, then you probably shouldn't be living in a $200,000 home. Something a little more modest, perhaps.
 

Busta Hustle

Beach Fanatic
Apr 11, 2007
434
34
Ah, it's only death by 1000 cuts. Without the millage increase they would only have a $100,293,000 budget to work with. And that would just be to sad to think about.
 

Just Curious

Beach Fanatic
Apr 22, 2009
316
80
Ah, it's only death by 1000 cuts. Without the millage increase they would only have a $100,293,000 budget to work with. And that would just be to sad to think about.

Do you realize that they have already cut the budget by 8+ million, and the more they cut the fewer services we get, and then you will be complaining that the county doesn't do anything.
 

Busta Hustle

Beach Fanatic
Apr 11, 2007
434
34
According to PA's from around the state they will need to cut at least another 8 million again next year. Walco levied almost $139 million in total property taxes alone in 2008. I'm pretty sure they can deliver servies with a take of a mere 130 million. Wasn't long ago they could deliver the same services for around $90 million.
 

WCTA

Beach Lover
May 27, 2009
124
120
Walton County
www.waltontaxpayers.org
If it's in the paper it has to be correct ?

Your County Commission did not vote to raise the millage rate at the last moment. State law allows for an administrative adjustment to be made when the final valuations from the Property Appraiser are lower than the estimates used during the public budget hearing process. Mr. Imfeld was simply notifying the Commissioners of what state statutes provide in the way of remedy.

Just to set the record straight the Walton County Commission has lowered its annual budget for three straight years. For the 2009-2010 budget year they cut $10,452,000 - the previous year they reduced their budget by $16,759,000 and in 2008 they cut $9,316,000.

The total amount sliced from the budget in 3 Years is $36,527,000 dollars.

Folks that is not chicken feed. Can more be done - YES but at what cost in the services we all enjoy.

The taxpayers association closely monitors the BCC budgets and expenditures. We were they only members of the public to attend and speak on the proposed budget.

The County has made substantial cuts in three years.

We will continue to look for different more cost effective ways to deliver the services we deem necessary and offer those suggestions to the Commission.

I am sure that our Commissioners will do the same.

PS - Walton County still has the 2nd lowest millage rate in Florida.

BH
 
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Jdarg

SoWal Expert
Feb 15, 2005
18,068
1,973
OK- I just got a giggle. The reporter on Channel 13 just said "SoWal" instead of South Walton in her story about the millage rate increase.:clap:
 
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