Comments on: Updated! The Millage Rate Explained and How Property Tax Policy Might Encourage Sprawl

By: bloggerstan

bloggerstan — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:29:10 +0000

The problem is the call to increase taxes will never stop when the politicians experiences little to no opposition or out-cry for more taxes. As prove of History they (politicians) will come back for even more increase in taxes.

First I want to see the Mayor find more cost cuts and control more expenses. I personally know of one city employee that was told the other day that he will be getting into a project within the next couple of weeks where he can expect 32 hours a week of overtime. Is this controlling or reducing costs, or just asking more tax dollars, in a time that is inappropriate, to cover costs that will not be controlled or reduced?

Even after the request for tax increases, it seems that their mind set is to continue with “spending as usual”. There is still too much waste at the city “company” even after the proposed “control“ of costs. To arbitrarily give the Mayor a blank check without demanding more cost cuts and cost control, is not being responsible as a citizen of Jacksonville, Florida.

By: bloggerstan

bloggerstan — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:29:10 +0000

Even after the request for tax increases, it seems that their mind set is to continue with “spending as usual”. There is still too much waste at the city “company” even after the proposed â€œcontrolâ€œ of costs. To arbitrarily give the Mayor a blank check without demanding more cost cuts and cost control, is not being responsible as a citizen of Jacksonville, Florida.

By: Amy Crane

Amy Crane — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:45:06 +0000

The increase will be less than $100 per household, and as was noted earlier, Jacksonville has not kept pace with other Florida cities. We're being left behind in all kinds of quality of life areas. I'm exhausted by the mentality that cheap is best. I want to live in a progressive, cultural, innovative, tolerant city. So, is the bumper sticker: “Jacksonville: The cheapest place to live in Florida,” or “Jacksonville: I'm proud to call it home” ??

By: Adam Hollingsworth

Adam Hollingsworth — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 09:18:24 +0000

Skink — The total millage to be levied by cities, counties and school board is capped by the state constitution. Each of these three entities is authorized to levy up to 10 mills in property taxes. Because Jacksonville is consolidated, we have authority to levy up to 20 mills (the 10 city mills and the 10 county mills). However, even with the modest increase the mayor is proposing, Jacksonville's millage rate would be less than half of what is authorized. And it will be lower than other large urban areas in Florida. In addition, two years ago, the Florida Legislature embedded a new formula into state statutes that sets a maximum millage rate that can be exceeded only with a supermajority vote of the city council. The mayor's proposal falls below the supermajority requirement. Hope this helps.

By: skink

skink — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:32:05 +0000

i thought millage rate increases were capped by the charter?

as an aside…wanna start at the source of our problems?
revisit the charter

By: Irvin PeDro Cohen

Irvin PeDro Cohen — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:57:15 +0000

As a taxpayer and a citizen who hates government waste I find myself firmly in support of the Mayorâ€™s proposed tax increase. For me it boils down to what type of city do I want Jacksonville to become. A city where the lack of resources leaves it without adequate programs that support young people or one where schools have the resources it needs and libraries are open and staffed. To me the answer is evident because we are living out what an unsustainable appetite for lower and lower taxes gives you. As a city we lead the state with one of the highest murder rates and sexually transmitted diseases at the same time we have one of the lowest millage rates in the state. While it is vogue to point to those on the lower end of the economic chain when it comes to the saying of â€œNo Free Lunch,â€ I say the same to those who stand on the opposite end of the economic spectrum. There are no free lunches at any level. You can not demand more proficiency and higher services and not pay for them. Failure to fund those programs that make Jacksonville both progressive and compassionate can and will ultimately come back to hurt us. We are at the point where we as citizen of this city must meet our Mayor and council halfway. My support of the new tax increase by no way signifies I am supportive of higher taxes. However, what it does say is that I am willing to do my part to continue to make sure Jacksonville is truly the place where Florida begins.

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:22:38 +0000

I do want to register in support of this initiative. Dedicated revenue streams are critical!

The form does not allow me to choose more than one are of interest relative to expenditure of funds/why I am interested. (I did try CTRL+Shift, etc., etc. and those don't work either. Maybe check boxes are an idea.)

Therefore, I cannot register/vote as I have more than one area of interest. I hope this can be adjusted as I would think it will ensure a better sense of what this community values on the whole.

There is no "quick comment" area either. That prevents me from "registering" the following:

It could benefit all citizens to be provided with information about how tax revenues are administered and distributed in addition to the simple math (for instance, sales v property tax).

The tax differential divided by twelve would assist as would projected increase(s).

By: Joey Marchy

Joey Marchy — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:03:02 +0000

Thank you Adam

By: Adam Hollingsworth

Adam Hollingsworth — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:07:45 +0000

Joey -- This link may help in your calculations...

http://www.fixitnow.cc/mypropertytax.html

By: Jeffrey Wright

Jeffrey Wright — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:18:03 +0000

Just my opinion, but increasing taxes is the easy way out and Peyton should be ashamed to even make such a proposal.