City council accepts property tax rate increase

BRADENTON — Bradenton City Council approved the acceptance of the city’s highest property tax millage rate in 28 years and a $98.1 million budget plan during a special meeting Wednesday.

City property owners will pay $4.9452 per $1,000 in assessed value if the millage rate and budget gain final approval Sept. 22.

Because of declining property values across the city, that rollback millage rate will allow the city to collect as much tax as it did last year.

The millage rate is up from $4.2843 in the current fiscal year and is the highest rate since 1982, when it was $5.4000.

City Clerk Carl Callahan said the increase would cost $66 on a $150,000 home with $50,000 of tax exemptions. That’s the cost of a monthly cell phone bill, he said.

Callahan said the budget will include the reduction of 30 staff positions — the majority will be vacant positions left unfilled, but there will be layoffs — and a 25 percent cut in longevity pay raises given to employees for length of service with the city.

He said the budget is lean on capital improvements and that city staff has gone beyond the point of doing more with less. The general fund budget is $32.6 million, down $6.6 million since the 2006-07 fiscal year.

“We’re probably doing less with less, unfortunately,” he said.

Councilman Bemis Smith said he supported the tax millage increase reluctantly.

“I hear where you’re coming from about $66 being a good value. ... When people I know are making 50 percent less, that’s a hard sell,” Smith said.

Final tax millage and budget approval is expected at council’s Sept. 22 meeting. There will be a public hearing before the meeting at 5:01 p.m.

Wednesday’s meeting also included a public hearing on the millage rate and budget. There was precious little public input, much like during an Aug. 17 town hall meeting. Only police officer Sean O’Leary and firefighter Rocco Salvatori, both city residents, spoke to council.

Both men said the city provides valuable services for the taxes it collects. O’Leary even suggested the millage rate should be higher.

“I’m very proud of our city departments,” O’Leary said. “But nothing’s getting cheaper. ... I just wonder ‘Is it enough?’ ”

Council has approved a 6 percent rate hike in stormwater rates and is considering a 2.5 percent increase in water and sewer fees. The water and sewer rate increase is expected to come before council Sept. 22 as well.