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Zephyrhills massages a $45-million budget
Despite a flat millage rate, property values would fatten the purse and add a dog park, a fountain and police.
By MOLLY MOORHEAD
Published September 13, 2005
ZEPHYRHILLS - City Council members on Monday passed a first draft of the 2005-06 city budget and set a tentative property tax rate that holds the line for the 15th straight year.
Property owners will again pay a city tax rate of 6.42 mills, but increases in individual tax bills are likely because of ballooning property values.
Property values inside the city rose a collective $58-million over last year.
A mill represents $1 for every $1,000 of taxable value. So a homeowner whose house is assessed at $150,000, minus the $25,000 homestead exemption, would pay $802.50 in city taxes. The figure does not include taxes levied by the county, school district or other agencies.
Using a state formula for evaluating taxes, the 6.42 millage is considered a nearly 9 percent citywide tax increase. To truly keep taxes at their current level, millage would have to be set at 5.915, known as the rollback rate, which would generate the same amount of revenue as last year.
The city budget for next year totals nearly $45-million.
The operating budget - roughly $15-million - includes a 4 percent pay increase for city employees, money for a dog park in the Meadowood neighborhood, a new parking lot around City Hall and a walkable fountain in Zephyr Park.
It also adds four new police officer positions - two beginning in January and two more in April.
The city expects to collect about $900,000 in Penny for Pasco sales tax funds. The money will buy six new police cars and a new firetruck. Some will go into reserves to build a new library, as well as other projects.
There is about $450,000 in contingency funds.
The city's airport, which operated in the red for years, has $6,000 in reserve.
The budget year begins Oct. 1.
A final public hearing on the millage and budget is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 26. Members of the public may address the council.
[Last modified September 13, 2005, 01:45:22]
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