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Belleair Beach expected to keep property tax rate

But even with $153,000 more in revenue, the city budget would be just a hair above this year's.

By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA
Published August 31, 2005

BELLEAIR BEACH - The property tax rate is expected to remain unchanged next year, but because of sharply increased property values, the higher property taxes homeowners will pay are generating an extra 18.7 percent for city coffers.

The City Council unanimously approved a 2.41 millage rate Monday, as well as a $2.173-million budget for the coming year. A second and final vote will be taken at the council's Sept. 12 meeting.

For a home with a taxable assessed value of $400,000, the city portion of the 2005-2006 property tax would be $964. Even with the additional $153,161 in property tax revenue, the overall budget is only $2,581 more than this year's budget - partly because of one-time grants received this year and an anticipated $30,000 drop in traffic fines because of a state law that apparently allows courts to retain most if not all of fines collected.

The city does expect higher revenues for garbage collection, public service taxes and franchise fees, state revenue sharing and its share of sales tax collections.

The budget calls for a 3.8 percent general pay hike and a 2 percent merit increase for most employees. Police Department salaries are covered under an existing contract that calls for a 6 percent increase.

The biggest anticipated change in the 2005-2006 capital improvements budget is a loan for up to $3-million for a new city hall and community center.

The new city hall is expected to cost about $1.9-million. The balance of the loan would cover furnishings and other related costs. Several loan proposals will be presented at the council's Sept. 12 meeting.

Other capital projects planned for the coming year include $202,000 for a citywide drainage plan, upgrades to Belle Isle Park, drainage repairs on 12th Street, replacement of city-owned seawalls on Belle Isle Avenue, a new dock at the Second Street park, a new police vehicle and general equipment purchases.

The city's first manager, Reid Silverboard, said the 2005-2006 budget is the "first step" in revamping the city's budgeting process. One goal, he said, is for city officials and residents to be able to easily identify costs of each city department, rather than having some services, such as the city clerk and finance director, being split among other departments.

[Last modified August 31, 2005, 01:22:13]