SUBJECT
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Set Proposed Millage for the Stormwater Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) for Fiscal Year 2024/2025.
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DESCRIPTION
Pursuant to the timetable for Truth in Millage (TRIM) compliance (Florida Statute 200.065), within 35 days of the certification of value from the Polk County Property Appraiser, each taxing authority shall advise the Property Appraiser of:
a. Proposed millage rate
b. Current year rolled-back rate
c. Date, time, and place of the Tentative Budget Public Hearing
Therefore, to be in compliance with the TRIM statutory timetable, it is requested that the Board of County Commissioners set the proposed millage rate of 0.0941 for the Stormwater MSTU for Fiscal Year 2024/2025 at today’s Board Meeting.
The proposed Stormwater MSTU millage rate of 0.0941 is the same as the millage rate in the current fiscal year. This proposed millage rate is more than the majority vote maximum millage rate and would require two-thirds vote of the Board.
On June 18, 2013, the Board conducted a duly noticed Public Hearing and subsequently adopted an ordinance titled “An Ordinance Creating the Polk County Municipal Service Taxing Unit to Fund a Comprehensive Stormwater Management Program; Describing the Boundaries of the Unit; Authorizing the Annual Levy of Ad Valorem Taxes Within Such Unit to Provide for a Comprehensive Stormwater Management Program; and Providing an Effective Date.”
A copy of the Florida Department of Revenue’s Certification of Taxable Value form will be sent to the Property Appraiser so that the Property Appraiser’s office may mail the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes. Section II of the completed form reflects the proposed milage rate of 0.0941 for the Stormwater MSTU.
The millage rate adopted at the Final Budget Public Hearing cannot exceed the proposed millage rate. However, the adopted millage rate may be less than the proposed millage rate.
RECOMMENDATION
Set the operating millage rate for Polk County Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) for the Stormwater MSTU for Fiscal Year 2024/2025 at 0.0941 mills, which is more than the rolled-back rate of 0.0879 mills and the same as the current year millage rate. The 0.0941 mills can be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Board. Also, set the date, time, and place for the Tentative Budget Public Hearing as September 9, 2024, 6:00 p.m., at Polk County Boardroom, County Administration Building, 330 West Church Street, Bartow, Florida
FISCAL IMPACT
The ad valorem revenue included in the Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Proposed Tentative Budget will be based on the millage rate set by the Board of County Commissioners.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Christia Johnson
Budget & Management Services Division Director
(863) 534-5985