Council Gives Initial Approval to 2013-14 Budget, Millage Rate

The Temple Terrace City Council gave initial approval to the $48,014,333 budget and 6.43 millage rate for fiscal year 2013-14 on Sept. 3 after hearing no public comment on either item.

The vote was 4-0 in favor of each measure. Councilman David Pogorilich was not present during the meeting.

The millage rate of 6.43 mills per $1,000 of taxable value is the same as last year’s millage rate. A homeowner whose house is worth $100,000, in theory, would pay $643 in taxes.

Although Temple Terrace residents will pay no more in taxes next year than they are paying this year, the city would receive an estimated $184,000 in additional revenue next year because its tax base has increased, City Manager Gerald Seeber has said.

Mayor Frank Chillura said Sept. 3 that he’d like to see taxes lowered. At the beginning of the budget process, he asked for a comparative list of the millage rates in all jurisdictions of Hillsborough County. Here’s the breakdown per $1,000 of taxable value:

• City of Temple Terrace, 6.43 mills
• City of Tampa, 5.73 mills
• City of Plant City, 4.72 mills
• Hillsborough County (unincorporated), 4.37 mills

“Years ago, we were one of the lowest millage rates in Hillsborough County,” Chillura said. “Now, we are the highest millage rate in Hillsborough County out of all the different governments. So, that’s why I thought it was very important that we look at that.”

The weak economy in the late 2000s caused the increase, he explained.

“Once the economy took a downturn, that’s when the council every year would come back and tick up and tick up and tick up the millage rate,” he told the council Sept. 3. “Now that times are starting to get a little better, it may be prudent on you all to look at that and say, ‘OK, do we make adjustments or do we continue on?’”

Having quality services, such as the city’s Police Department and Fire Department, is important, Chillura said, but when people are considering moving their families or businesses to the Tampa area, Temple Terrace’s comparatively higher tax rate could deter them.

“When you sell your city,” he said, “you don’t sell it as the most expensive place to live.”

The council will have a second and final discussion on the 2013-14 budget and millage rate at their meeting Tuesday, Sept. 18, 6 p.m., at City Hall. The public is invited to comment.

See also:

• City: Temple Terrace Taxes Not Going Up
• Council Approves 2012-13 Budget, Millage Rate (2012)
• Council Adopts Millage Rate and Budget (2011)