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TARPON SPRINGS - Residents have a chance this week to weigh in on how their taxes are spent as officials consider the city's proposed $44.7-million budget for fiscal year 2004-05.
After a public hearing Tuesday, the City Commission will vote on two resolutions to tentatively adopt the millage rate and the proposed budget.
The hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall, 324 E Pine St. As proposed, the city's projected total spending would go up 14 percent over what commissioners budgeted last year.
The cost of repaving portions of Tarpon Avenue and Pinellas Avenue accounts for much of that spending increase. Roughly $4.7-million has been earmarked for that project, and construction is scheduled to begin late next year.
Meanwhile, about $16.1-million of the projected budget will be used to provide police, fire and other general services.
The draft budget calls for keeping the same property tax rate of 4.95 mills, or $4.95 in tax for every $1,000 of assessed, nonexempt property value. With that rate, many property owners' taxes would still go up because the value of their property has increased.
A second public hearing has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 16, when the commission is expected to adopt the budget.