Manors’ proposed tax rate to drop, but fire fee could rise

The proposed budget in Wilton Manors provides property owners with a slight decrease in the city’s property tax rate, but a 12 percent increase in their fire assessment fee.

Commissioners will meet with the city’s Budget Review Advisory Committee at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall to begin their public discussions of City Manager Joseph Gallegos’ recommended $13 million operating budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

The city’s proposed tax rate is $6.96 for every $1,000 of taxable value, which is a decrease of .53 percent from the current year. The owner of a $150,000 home receiving a $50,000 homestead exemption would pay $696 in city taxes, about $3.70 less than in their last bill.

The reduction is due primarily to debt refinancing the commission approved this year to lower the interest rates the city is paying, Commissioner Julie Carson said. After increasing the overall tax rate the past four years, the city is looking for stability this year, she said.

“No one wants to raise the millage rate this year,” Carson said, referring to the property tax rate. “I think that we will go into this year looking at the status quo, plus the savings we got from the refinancing.”

Although the overall tax rate is dropping, the city expects to collect about $100,000 more in property taxes for its operating fund because city property values are up 2.79 percent this year.

Employees would receive a 1 percent cost-of-living-adjustment under the proposed budget, but no merit raises.

The annual fire assessment fee is proposed to increase $15.52 for the owner of a single-family home. The new assessment would be $144.36.

The fee would be included in preliminary tax bills sent out next month, which will also include proposed property tax rates from the city, county, school district and other taxing entities. The commission will adopt a final tax rate and fire assessment in September.