Tuesday, July 27, 2010

“Winter Haven Property Tax Rates to Stay at $5.79 per $1,000” plus 2 more

“Winter Haven Property Tax Rates to Stay at $5.79 per $1,000” plus 2 more

Winter Haven Property Tax Rates to Stay at $5.79 per $1,000

Posted: 26 Jul 2010 08:55 PM PDT

Published: Monday, July 26, 2010 at 11:58 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, July 26, 2010 at 11:58 p.m.

WINTER HAVEN | Property owners do not have to worry about a city property tax rate increase next year.

City commissioners decided Monday night to keep the city's property tax rate at $5.79 per $1,000 of taxable value for the 2010-11 fiscal year.

The vote was 4-0, with City Commissioner Steven Hunnicutt absent.

That vote means that the commission can lower the property tax rate before the budget year begins Oct. 1, but cannot raise it.

That's projected to raise $8.7 million in property taxes for the 2010-11 budget year.

The city tax bill for a $150,000 home with $50,000 in homestead exemptions would be $579.

The city expects a $308.9 million drop in taxable property values, which will reduce the city property tax revenue.

The first public hearing on the budget will be at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at City Hall.

In other business, the city administration took an early step in rolling out its ideas for the Winter Haven Municipal Airport when the City Commission discussed the plans at its meeting Monday night.

The next step will be to get input from the Airport Advisory Committee and the plan will be posted on the city's website for hangar tenants to review.

"We're going to have input from everybody before we move forward," said City Manager Dale Smith.

In May, commissioners told Smith to prepare a management plan for the city's airport.

At the same time, city administrators visited airports in Bartow, Sebring and Lakeland to determine the best model for Winter Haven.

That included determining whether the city wanted to continue contracting with fixed based operator Richard Parish, who handles the operation of the airport, or whether the city wants to have its own FBO.

The FBO provides the day-to-day operations such as fuel sales, flight school, aircraft maintenance and aircraft rental.

The city's contract with Parish expires in August 2011, and the administration wants to start the process of selecting an FBO that meets the city's management needs.

City administrators said greater control at the airport would require additional staffing and increase liability.

After reviewing several options, the city's staff recommended staying with a private FBO.

The city will continue to provide an airport director to handle the administrative activities including marketing and promotion, property management, and working with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Florida Department of Transportation on compliance issues.

Debbie Murphy, the city's utility account and field services division director, is serving as interim director after Cheryl Connor resigned in April amid a feud with City Commissioner Jamie Beckett over how she was running the airport.

Smith has set no timeline to hire a new airport manager.

Murphy reports to Community and Economic Development Director David Dickey.

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Property owner vents frustration on Neosho tax plan

Posted: 26 Jul 2010 09:27 PM PDT

July 26, 2010

Property owner vents frustration on Neosho tax plan

By Greg Grisolano Globe Staff Writer

NEOSHO, Mo. — Several residents expressed outrage and frustration over a proposed $1 property tax that will be on the ballot Tuesday, Aug. 3.

The residents grilled Councilman Tom Workman during a two-hour question-and-answer session put on Monday night by the Neosho City Council. The proposal calls for a $1 levy per $100 assessed valuation on real estate and personal property.

Objection voiced

Oren Raulston, who lives in rural Neosho, brought a sign that encourages people to vote "yes" on the property tax. The sign states that a vote in favor of the tax is a vote for public safety. The sign states that it is sponsored by a statewide firefighters union.

"How many firetrucks will this tax buy?" he asked Workman. "How many police cars?"

"None that I know of," Workman said.

Raulston, who said he owns property in the city limits but cannot vote on next Tuesday's tax issue because he does not live in the city limits, said he believes the tax is really "a bailout."

"Whoever put this sign in my yard, shame on you," he said during the meeting. "You're lying to us again. (Public safety) is not what this is about.

"I know we have to have it. But just tell us the truth that this is a bailout."

The council is proposing to use revenue from the levy to pay for basic operating expenses out of the general fund, and to repay more than $1.8 million that was borrowed from restricted accounts to pay the city's debt obligations and to meet payroll.

An outside accounting firm estimated that the property tax of $1 would raise roughly $1.15 million annually, leaving the city with having to make more budget cuts to balance next year's budget.

If voters do not approve the levy, the city could be faced with no choice but to cut services to bring expenses into balance with revenues, officials have said. A simple majority is required for approval of the tax plan.

Background

The fund borrowing took place during the previous fiscal year. Former City Manager Jan Blase and former Finance Director Bob Blackwood were fired earlier this year after the borrowing was made public. Each man faces one misdemeanor count in Newton County Circuit Court of official misconduct in connection with the action.

Blase has filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging wrongful termination. It contends that the previous City Council violated his 14th Amendment right to due process when he was fired in February.

About 30 residents attended the meeting, many coming in during the end of Workman's presentation. He went through the presentation a second time, taking more questions.

Monday night's session was the last one that the city had scheduled to present the tax plan to voters. Workman filled in for Mayor Richard Davidson, who had a prior commitment.

Workman noted that the city has cut at least 19 positions since October 2009, and that city employees at that time also agreed to take a 3 percent pay cut to prevent layoffs.

"People have said, 'Well, I'm not doing anything until they cut the fat,'" he said. "I'm telling you, 20 positions in the last year, that's one-fifth of the city's payroll."

Not an option

The city had been considering adopting a 42-cent levy if the $1 levy failed at the polls. That option has been taken "off the table," according to Mayor Richard Davidson. He previously said a decision on whether the council has the authority to impose the tax may not be rendered by the Missouri attorney general's office in time to meet a Sept. 1 deadline for setting property tax rates.

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West Des Moines school board to discuss property tax levy

Posted: 27 Jul 2010 03:37 AM PDT

A 10-year property tax devoted to paying for improvements to school buildings and upgrading technology in the Des Moines school district is set to expire at the end of June.

School board members are seeking voter approval to extend the physical plant and equipment levy, which amounts to 63 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation and raises $4.4 million a year. They will decide during a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. today when to hold the election and whether to increase the levy.

The board is looking to take the issue before voters Sept. 14. If it fails to pass, they could then put it back on the ballot in December.

Without an extension, district officials say they would have to shift expenses to the already stretched general fund or re-evaluate spending plans for the statewide1 percent sales tax money.

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