“It’s an early Christmas for Nassau County Government “according to Nassau County Property Appraiser

Nassau County Property Appraiser
A. Michael Hickox
Contact: Kevin Lilly
August 26, 2018 2:03 p.m.

Mike Hickox

Imagine this scenario: You have a good job and you are a hard worker making an annual $60k salary. Your boss has always been good to you and she has even given you salary increases over the past couple of years. But times have been tough lately with some unforeseen expenses. You have dipped into reserves due to hurricanes, put off purchasing some yard equipment, you need a new vehicle and even need to spend more on the safety of your kids attending school. What do you do? How do you decide what to buy and what to forego another year? Christmas is right around the corner. How are you going to afford everything your “family” needs and wants?

Luckily, there is a plan. I asked my “family” to give me a list of everything they could possibly want this year and, as long as I’m planning ahead, for the next five years as well. I added up all the things my family wants and deduced I needed to make a total of $77k a year. What would happen if I asked my “boss” for a 27.4% increase in salary, so we could have everything we wanted in five years? Would she laugh at my idea or terminate my employment? Where would the money come from to pay me the $77k every year for the next five years? Would my boss convince her bosses that I needed this raise? Would my salary go back down after the five years? These are all good questions. Now, imagine this was government.

The 2018 proposed millage (tax) rates have been set by the taxing authorities. The Nassau County and town of Hilliard rates are up, while most all other taxing authorities in the County are either slightly decreased or the same as last year. A proposed millage neutral policy would still provide a tax increase related to the increase in taxable value for all taxing districts. The Notice of Proposed Taxes was mailed to you by my office on August 20th. We are already answering hundreds of calls saying, “We are appraisers, we determine your value. We do not set your taxes.” This year is the clearest example of what we mean.

It is the statutory responsibility of the Property Appraiser’s office to list and appraise all properties within the County to a fair market value every year and to administer property tax exemptions. For 2018, the taxable value county‐wide is up 8.9% over last year. Therefore, a millage neutral policy (same tax rate as last year) would provide for roughly an 8.9% increase in revenue for the County. This year the County has proposed an increase of about 1.5 mills to their tax rates. Consequently, the total taxes levied will increase from just over $60 million to over $77 million. That is a 27.4% increase in property taxes from last year.

To give a little perspective refer to the table below. Currently there are three millage rates set by the Board of County Commissioners. The two millage rates on the table with proposed increases are for Nassau County (NA Co) and their Municipal Services Fund (NA Co MSF). The third millage is for the Amelia Island Beach Renourishment area of the island. The rate set by the County was neutral (.1021 mills) and provides an increase of about 8.5% in revenue for this year and is not included on the table.

In fairness to your elected Commissioners, it is not an easy job to balance the needs and wants of the taxpayers with the limited resources and revenues of the County. There have been recent hurricanes, population growth, and increases in costs; including fire protection and public safety resources needed by the Sheriff and our schools. The challenge has always been what is a need and what do taxpayers want to fund? The millage rates were not changed during the downturn and have only been raised once in 11 years (1 mill in 2014). Now commissioners are faced with aging assets and limited reserves for replacement.

This 27.4% increase in taxes would take an additional $17 million from the taxpayers and transfer it to Nassau County government. Taking $17,000,000 in new taxes (assuming 80,000 population) is $212 per person. Some will pay less, and some will pay much more. This means less money for our residents to spend on dinner, movies, car repairs, health care, clothes, and all other goods and services. Is that a reasonable amount? Should it be less? Should it be more? Is a $6 million increase enough? Is $12 million enough? Will we see the tax rate go down in five years? These are questions for our “family” of taxpayers in Nassau County to decide? How much of a raise should the government get this year? As referenced on your Notice of Proposed Taxes the meeting to decide these issues is scheduled for September 10th.

This important mailing will give you your 2018 values and list any exemptions you are receiving. I strongly encourage you to read this notice. It is the basis for your tax bill that will be mailed to you in November. If you believe your property is worth less than the market value on the notice, please call or email our office to discuss. We will be glad to review it with you. Furthermore, if you do not see an exemption you applied for, or you are receiving an exemption you no longer qualify for, please contact our office. It is the goal of the Property Appraiser’s office to be efficient, consistent, and fair with all property owners regarding their value. If you are concerned or have questions about your taxes call the appropriate taxing authority listed on the informational insert included in your Notice of Proposed Taxes.

Please visit our website at www.nassauflpa.com for additional information concerning your property. The 2018 values have been posted. As Property Appraiser I appreciate the opportunity you have given me, and I am here to continue serving you to the best of my ability. Remember, Christmas is right around the corner!

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Vincent Cavallo
Vincent Cavallo(@grandvin)
5 years ago

Thanks for the details Mike. One set of figures I look at is “county expenditures”. Since the 2014-2015 budget and through the proposed budget, our county expenditures have gone from about 82 million to over 128 million (figures may include reimbursements from other entities). This is a more than 50% increase over four years. I find that troubling. The county has been bellowing that growth would be a great thing and would be pretty much cost neutral to county residents. Obviously that is a pipe dream.

There is a suggestion the increases may not be permanent once we are “caught up”. I don’t believe that for a second. For an example of what government does with new money is look at the city’s response to the windfall from the soon to be collected gas tax increase. The response is where can we spend it!