Politics

Zephyrhills okays lower tax rate

By Times Staff Writer
Published September 26, 2007

ZEPHYRHILLS - City Council members adopted a nearly $17-million operating budget for the upcoming year and set the city property tax rate at 5.57 mills Monday night.

At 5.57 mills, a person whose home is assessed at $150,000 with a $25,000 homestead exemption would pay about $696 in city taxes.

The new rate is a substantial drop from past years.

To accommodate Tallahassee lawmakers' mandate for lower tax rates statewide, Zephyrhills slashed spending on capital expenditures like a long-sought performing arts center and new vehicles for some departments. To further trim expenses, the city is budgeting for only one new hire in the coming year.

In 2006, the city planned on hiring at least seven new employees for the 2006-07 fiscal year, City Manager Steve Spina said.

[Last modified September 25, 2007, 22:44:12]