School tax rate may drop slightly

But rising property values may still mean higher taxes for many county residents.

By MONIQUE FIELDS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published July 18, 2002

The good news for Pinellas County property owners: The tax rate for schools will fall slightly if the School Board adopts a proposed lower millage.

The bad news: Property values are rising, which means property taxes may still increase for many people.

The tax rate is dropping mainly because property values in Pinellas County have risen from $42-billion last year to $45-billion this year, an increase of about 7 percent.

The decrease itself is very small -- less than half a percent -- said Doug Forth, the district's budget director. The proposed tax is 8.449 mills, down from 8.487 mills. That figure includes the Legislature's required millage of 5.808 as well as two additional taxes for discretionary funds. The final 2 mills will be set aside for building new schools, remodeling, replacing air conditioners and retrofitting schools for technology.

"If they live in a home that has not gone up in value, they will experience a decrease in property taxes," Forth said.

Even then, the total tax bill may not be lower because several agencies levy taxes in Pinellas County. And it's likely the taxable value of the property may increase.

School district tax rates change each year and must be levied in order for a district to receive state funds.

Early Wednesday, Pinellas school officials discovered that the figure the Department of Education used for the county's value of property was $1.8-million lower than the figure the county's tax appraiser certified. They immediately called the discrepancy to the attention of the Department of Education.

"We've asked them to review it quickly so that we can use the correct one, and they are doing that," Forth said.

If the proposed tax rate is approved, it would generate about $366-million from Pinellas County taxpayers' pocketbooks. The rest of the school district's as yet undetermined budget will be funded by state and federal monies.

The confusion over the taxable property value won't affect the overall funds the district will receive. But it may change how much the district gets from local taxes and how much it gets from the state.

"It changes a lot of little things, but we've not seen that computation," Forth said.

Figuring your school tax

The proposed tax rate for next year is 8.449, down from 8.487 mills this year. A mill is equal to $1 in tax for every $1,000 of assessed taxable property value.

The owner of a $100,000 home with a $25,000 homestead exemption would pay $633.68 in school taxes, down from $636.53 from this year.

To determine your school district taxes, take the assessed value of your home, and if you qualify for the $25,000 homestead exemption, subtract the amount from the assessed value. Divide that number by 1,000 and multiply by 8.449.

To learn more

A public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. July 30 at the district administration building, 301 Fourth St. SW in Largo.

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