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More taxes, this time from Dunedin again

Now, the City Commission has reduced the tax rate even more, in response to angry local taxpayers who are upset (like everyone else) about increasing property taxes.

Throughout Tampa Bay and across Florida (and beyond Florida, as well), taxpayers are getting up in arms about property tax rates. In this area, at least, the culprit is exploding property values. Home valuations have shot up, and that increase in value results in higher property taxes.

Here’s an example of what that means locally; Pinellas County will rake in $148 million more in tax revenue this year without having to increase tax rates one bit — the huge increase in property tax valuations is at fault.

Anyway, back to Dunedin: A few days ago the City Commission voted to drop the millage rate by 5 percent in response to angry taxpayers. Scores of taxpayers showed up at a commission meeting and pleaded with commissioners to provide some relief. And the commissioners said at the meeting that they will consider additional tax rate cuts, even thought the result may be cuts in city services.

Across the region and the state, it is looking more and more like a full-fledged taxpayer revolt in the making. Stay tuned.

Tags: Dunedin, pinellas county, taxes

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 20th, 2006 at 2:42 am and is filed under Market Trends, North Pinellas County, taxes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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