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Pinellas Park's tax rate cut after much debate

But because of increased property values, homeowners can expect a slightly higher tax bill next year.

By ANNE LINDBERG
Published September 20, 2006

PINELLAS PARK - A sharply split council debated for more than a half hour and voted five times before it finally agreed to reduce the city's property tax rate.

The debate became contentious at one point with council member Rick Butler and Mayor Bill Mischler accusing the other of "grandstanding."

The millage change is the first in nine years. For the past eight years, Pinellas Park's property tax rate has remained steady at 5.0788 mills. In the 2006-07 fiscal year, it will be 4.9788 mills. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of taxable value.

Had the council left the rate at 5.0788 mills, the city taxes on a $125,000 home with a $25,000 homestead exemption would have been $507.88. Under the lower rate that was adopted, the taxes will be $497.88.

But homeowners will pay more in taxes anyway. That's because the value of property has increased at least 3 percent. That means the $125,000 home would have been valued at $121,359 this year. With a $25,000 homestead exemption and the 5.0788 millage rate, this year's city property taxes would have been $489.39, or about $8 less than next year's taxes.

The dispute at last Thursday's council meeting was between Butler and Ed Taylor, who wanted to retain the higher rate, and Mischler and Sandy Bradbury, who wanted to lower the rate. Patricia Bailey-Snook was ill and was not there to break the tie votes.

Former Mayor Cecil Bradbury offered to go get Bailey-Snook to help break the tie, but the council refused, saying she was too ill. The council even tried to postpone the vote until she was well, but was unable to do so because state law mandated that the vote be done last week.

"I would highly suggest council pass this tonight ... at either millage rate. I don't care at this point, I just don't want to have trouble with the state," said Dan Katsyiannis, who prepares the Pinellas Park budget.

Katsyiannis' plea helped break the logjam that began when Bradbury made a motion to lower the tax rate. There was silence and it appeared no one would second her motion until Mischler did so.

"It isn't much but a dollar here is a dollar there. If we can reduce it a little bit, I think we should," Mischler said. "I'd like to reduce it more."

Butler: "Wow. I knew this debate was going to happen this evening.... It's a savings of $10 a year on your taxes."

That $10 would buy a "love it" size ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery at the nearby Shoppes at Park Place shopping center, Butler said. But, in the aggregate, it would buy a lot more for the city. He predicted the council would have to raise the rate again for the 2008-09 fiscal year.

Mischler countered that Katsyiannis said the budget could take the hit with "no adverse effect."

The vote tied 2-2 and failed.

Taylor then moved to leave the millage at 5.0788 mills. Butler seconded it. That vote tied and failed.

Mischler asked for a new motion, saying, "We could sit here all night."

Bradbury moved to table the item and was told she could not.

Taylor repeated his motion and Butler seconded it. The motion again tied and failed.

"We'll have to sit here all night," Mischler said.

Bradbury tried again, moving that the millage be reduced. This time, Taylor seconded it. The motion passed 3-1 with Butler dissenting.

Then city attorney Jim Denhardt said the council would have to vote again because the form of the motion had been incorrect.

Bradbury made the motion again and Taylor seconded it.

Butler said he felt that, if the council was going to reduce the tax rate, members should really lower it and let taxpayers see what a really tight budget is like. He suggested 3.65 mills.

"Let's cut back our services and do the right thing," Butler said. "This is Mickey Mouse."

Butler said other council members only wanted to be able to tell people they had lowered the taxes.

"You want to do some grandstanding here," Butler said.

Mischler: "The only grandstanding, Mr. Butler, is on your part by suggesting some ridiculous millage rate."

Taylor said he agreed with Butler that the rate needed to remain at 5.0788 but, "we need to move on it. It is a token. It is ridiculous."

Butler: "Come election time, I'm going to have a big mailer telling you I lowered your taxes."

Taylor said if Butler would vote for the reduction, he would vote against it. Butler agreed.

The final vote was 3-1, with Taylor the lone holdout for a higher tax rate.

[Last modified September 19, 2006, 23:05:13]