The first of three votes needed to set the property tax rate for city residents was taken Wednesday, July 31, by the Apopka City Council.
The council voted 5-0 to keep the property tax rate the same at 4.0376 mills, which is expected to bring in more than $14.2 million to the city coffers. A mill is equal to $1 in tax for every $100,000 in taxable property value making city of Apopka property taxes on a home with $100,000 of taxable property value $403.76 for the current fiscal year.
If the City Council gives eventual final approval to the 4.0376 mills, the tax rate will remain the same next year, but because of increased property values, taxes will go up for property owners. The average increase in property value for the city of Apopka is 8.3 percent.
Property taxes are the largest portion of the city’s General Fund budget. The proposed General Fund portion of the city of Apopka budget for the 2019-2020 fiscal year is $50.3 million.
Other significant revenue sources for the General Fund are the city’s portion of the half-cent sales tax ($8.9 million), transfer from utility operating fund ($6.2 million), electricity franchise fees ($3.6 million), electricity utility tax ($3.1 million), state revenue sharing ($2.8 million), and communications tax ($1.4 million).
One revenue source that has dried up is the red-light camera fines. In 2017-2018, the city received nearly $1.9 million from that source, although it did not net that amount as all expenses for the program came out of that fund.
Generally, the city netted $800,000 to $1 million from the fines. In 2018, the City Council voted to get rid of the red-light cameras effective December 31, 2018, and received only $463,000 in red-light camera fines during the current fiscal year that ends September 30.
The property tax rate and city budget will receive a pair of votes in September before the 2019-2020 fiscal year begins on October 1.
The tentative budget and millage rate will get a vote on September 4 in a 5:15 p.m. meeting and the final vote for the tax rate and budget will take place at a meeting on September 18 at a 7 p.m. meeting.
Learn what else happened at the City Council meeting in the page 1A story of the Friday, August 2, issue of The Apopka Chief. Subscribe today!
