SUBJECT
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Set Proposed Millage Rate for the Parks Municipal Service Taxing Unit for FY 26/27.
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DESCRIPTION
Pursuant to the statutory 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 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 required that the Board of County Commissioners set the proposed millage rate of 0.5286 mills for the Parks MSTU for FY 26/27 at today’s Board Meeting.
The proposed Parks MSTU millage rate of 0.5286 mills is the same as the Parks MSTU millage rate in the current fiscal year.
On June 1, 2005, the Board conducted a duly noticed Public Hearing and subsequently adopted an ordinance titled “An Ordinance Creating the Polk County Municipal Service Taxing Unit for Park and Recreation Facilities, Services, and Programs; Describing the Boundaries of the Unit; Authorizing the Annual Levy of Ad Valorem Taxes Within Such Unit to Provide Services, Facilities, and Programs; and Providing an Effective Date.”
A copy of the Florida Department of Revenue’s Certification of Taxable Value form will be sent to the Polk County 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 millage rate of 0.5286 mills for the Parks 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 the Polk County Parks Municipal Taxing Unit (MSTU) for FY 26/27 at 0.5286 mills, which is more than the rolled-back rate of 0.5218 mills, and set the date, time, and place for the Tentative Budget Hearing as September 14, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., at Polk County Commission Boardroom, County Administration Building, 330 West Church Street, Bartow, Florida.
FISCAL IMPACT
The ad valorem revenue included in the FY 26/27 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