General

Fernandina Beach City Commissioners appear supportive of proposed FY 2012-2013 millage

Posted on by Susan Steger

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter-News Analyst

In a special meeting on September 4, 2012 that lasted barely 15 minutes, the Fernandina Beach City Commission discharged its legal obligation to hold the first of two public hearings on the proposed millage rates for fiscal year 2012-13, which begins October 1.  About a dozen people attended this meeting during which Mayor Filkoff formally delivered to the public the so-called TRIM statement (truth in millage), which includes the following information:

  • The taxing authority levying the property tax is the City Commission of the City of Fernandina Beach.
  • The rolled back rate is 5.4605 mills per $1,000 of assessed value.
  • The percentage increase is 10.39% over the rollback millage rate.
  • The operating millage rate to be levied is 6.027 mills per $1,000 of assessed value.
  • The voter debt millage rate is .2724.

 

Only two members of the public rose to speak.  Mr. Lynn Williams said that he believes the citizens get good value for their taxes, and that he would support an even larger increase in taxes.  Mr. Jack Ruppel said that he did not understand how his taxes would be rising 21% over the current year.  Mrs. Patti Clifford, the City Controller, explained that the millage rate was based upon the combined pool of assessed property values for the city, but that individual circumstances might vary when factors like homestead exemptions were factored in.  Commissioner Tim Poynter reminded the public that the city does not set property values.  That is the job of the Nassau County Property Appraiser.

City Attorney Tammi Bach advised the commissioners that any proposed change to the millage rates must be announced during the current September 4 meeting to allow time for the millage recomputation for presentation at the September 18 meeting.

Despite repeated calls from the mayor for questions and/or input from commissioners on the TRIM statement, there were none.

City Manager Joe Gerrity reminded commissioners that there would be one additional special meeting on September 18 for public input on the millage rate.  He said that September 30th is the final deadline for adoption of the FY 2012-13 City Budget.

September 5, 2012 11:36 a.m.