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Property Taxes Reduced

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By JOYCE McKENZIE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 22, 2007

TEMPLE TERRACE - The city council Tuesday approved a slight reduction in the city's property tax rate and its budget for 2007-08.

The property tax rate, which determines the city's portion of residents' property tax payments, was set at 4.57 mills, down from the 4.91 rate that held steady the past seven years.

A mill equals $1 of tax for each $1,000 of assessed nonexempt property.

The 2007-08 budget is about $51.8 million, compared with the previous fiscal year's approximately $52.4 million.

Temple Terrace Finance Director Diane Reichard said budget recommendations were made in anticipation of the of the state's January 'super exemption' referendum that, if approved, would significantly increase the homestead tax exemption for Florida's full-time homeowners.

Some of the cuts from the city's operating budget will include Christmas decorations, an education incentive for employees seeking degrees and limiting the length-of-service salary increase from 125 to 84 months.

Cuts in capital expenses include a water slide for the city's family recreation complex, restructuring the community services department offices, tiling the entryway of the library, purchasing a street sweeper and buying a van for the city's youth program.

City Manager Kim Leinbach said some tough decisions also had to be made as a result of the governor's mandates this year.

'I want to thank the council and Diane Reichard and her staff for stepping up to the plate and addressing this challenging issue,' he said.

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849 or jmckenzie@tampatrib.com.

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