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Anger gets residents 1-mill reduction

Commissioners answer the demand of about 200 residents to lower the property tax rate.

By CATHERINE E. SHOICHET
Published September 16, 2006

INVERNESS - Faced with dozens of enraged residents demanding lower taxes Thursday night, county commissioners voted 4-0 to set the millage rate at 7.145 - a 1-mill reduction from last year's level.

That means county officials have less than two weeks to trim $11.4-million from the county's proposed $223.9-million budget. Commissioners will meet again at 9 a.m. Tuesday to hash out the details of how they will scale back. They will set the final millage rate at a hearing at 5:01 p.m. Sept. 26.

"Can it be done? Yes. Will it be painful? Probably. But it can be done," human resources director Randy Petitt said.

Looking to share the pain, commissioners plan to send letters to the county's constitutional officers asking them to cut back on their proposed budgets.

One mill equals $1 of tax for each $1,000 of assessed, nonexempt real property. That means a 1-mill decrease would save $125 in taxes for the owner of a home assessed at $150,000 who takes the standard $25,000 homestead exemption.

That homeowner would pay $893.12 in taxes to the county with the rate that commissioners approved Thursday.

But many property owners at Thursday's meeting said that wasn't enough.

The 1-mill decrease would still leave commissioners with $10-million more in the county's general fund.

Several audience members urged commissioners to adopt the rollback millage rate - the rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue that went to county coffers last year - at 6.3305 mills.

The evening hearing began with about 200 people packed inside the chambers. By the time the meeting drew to a close after 10 p.m., fewer than 30 remained. But their calls to reduce government spending remained strong even as their numbers dwindled.

"I have never seen this type of outcry," Commissioner Dennis Damato said.

The meeting's biggest protests came when one speaker, Sally Van Osdell of Inverness, mentioned that assessed values had decreased on several parcels of property owned by Damato and Commission Chairman Gary Bartell.

Damato said her criticism was unfair because assessed values had decreased throughout Black Diamond, not only on the vacant lot that he owns there. Bartell said she was incorrect and that his taxes were slated to increase on all five properties he owns. But boos from the crowd nearly drowned out their defense.

It was among many tense moments in a night filled with fiery speeches, thunderous applause and occasional shouting.

Morris Harvey, fiscal watch committee chairman for the Citrus County Council, criticized the "exorbitant" increase in property tax revenue. While the county's population increased only by about 3 percent, he said, the 8.145 millage rate originally proposed would send nearly $24-million more to county coffers.

"Stop this runaway spending and taxation," he said, urging commissioners to reduce the millage rate by at least 1 mill and start using zero-based budgeting practices.

C.J. Dixon, president of ERA American Realty & Investments and ERA Suncoast Realty, said that approach was the only prudent way to balance the county's budget. Increasing government too much with next year's tax income uncertain is irresponsible, he said.

"Let's plan for what we see coming," he said. "Everyone knows the boom is over."

While some speakers spoke in broad terms, many focused on specifics, citing details from their Truth in Millage notices and proposing county programs to cut.

Jim Bitter of Homosassa said commissioners could start their budget cuts with one item: the $131,000 earmarked for the Economic Development Council.

"We have gotten nothing back from the EDC that is of any value to anyone in this county," he said. "There's a piece of red meat you can chew on right now."

Several speakers had harsh criticism for Sheriff Jeff Dawsy, whose proposed $28.5-million budget includes 15 new jobs.

Jim McIntosh of Lecanto described Dawsy as a "tax hog," drawing applause from the crowd. A few audience members shouted that they would vote Dawsy out of office.

"He will have to be on the hot seat, just like you guys," Dixon said. "It's time to tighten the belt."

Dawsy did not attend the meeting.

Commissioners said they understood property owners' concerns and criticisms and ultimately voted unanimously to decrease the millage rate. Commissioner Jim Fowler did not attend the meeting.

Bartell said commissioners should seriously consider several ideas presented by Thursday's speakers, including zero-based budgeting and adding an additional homestead exemptions for seniors.

Commissioner Vicki Phillips said she would be willing to consider the rollback rate.

Commissioner Joyce Valentino said she hoped that commissioners could scale back as close to that number as possible.

But Bartell and Damato expressed concerns that cutting back too far would jeopardize important projects.

"I will not sacrifice the infrastructure that is needed for the future of this county by going any more than (a 1-mill reduction) at this time," Bartell said.

All four commissioners said residents should also speak out to state officials.

"They should see a tape up in Tallahassee of this meeting," Valentino said.

Tuesday's special budget meeting will be in the Citrus County Courthouse, 110 N Apopka Ave, Inverness. It will also air live on Bright House cable Channel 14 and Adelphia cable Channel 9.

Catherine E. Shoichet can be reached at cshoichet@sptimes.com or 860-7309.

COMMISSIONERS' LAND

At Thursday night's meeting, one speaker brought Truth in Millage TRIM notices from the Citrus County property appraiser describing property owned by Commissioner Dennis Damato and Commission Chairman Gary Bartell.

- A piece of property owned by Damato, 3535 W Treyburn Path, Black Diamond, decreased $1,500 in assessed value between 2005 and 2006. In 2005, the assessed value was $63,700. This year, it's $62,200.

Damato said such assessment decreases occurred throughout the Black Diamond subdivision. The assessed value of six other parcels he owns increased.

- A piece of property owned by Bartell, 8900 W White Dogwood Drive, Homosassa, decreased in assessed value from $15,800 to $15,500. Two other small pieces of properties' assessed value remained unchanged, according to TRIM notices on the property appraiser's Web site. The assessed value of two other properties he owns increased.

[Last modified September 16, 2006, 07:00:00]