County Commissioners Reduce Millage Rate

On July 31, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners reconciled a budget that reduces the millage rate by 4.24 percent from the aggregate roll-back millage rate.

The millage rate is the tax rate applied to property. Each mill represents $1 of tax assessment per $1,000 of assessed property value. This means residents with a home valued at $165,000 with a homestead exemption can expect less than a $1 reduction in their property taxes.

This is the 18th year the commission has continued to reduce the county’s total millage rate. 

During the Budget Reconciliation Workshop, the board also approved funding for:

• Additional parks and recreation centers, including $2.2 million for construction of the FishHawk Area Recreation Center and $2.8 million for the FishHawk Sports Complex expansion
• Improvements to the 10 most dangerous intersections in the county
• $2 million as the county's contribution to a new South Shore YMCA
• $1.6 million to renovate and expand the Riverview Fire Station No. 16
• Reconstruction of ADA ramps and rehabilitation and repair of existing sidewalks to the tune of $9 million
• $6.9 million in stormwater capital improvements
• $4.5 million to resurface 35 miles of high-traffic roadways

The recommended budget totals $3.06 billion.

County commissioners will hold final budget hearings Wednesday, Sept. 12 and Thursday, Sept. 20 on the second floor of County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., in downtown Tampa. After the Sept. 20 public hearing, commissioners will adopt the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget.