Gulfport Sets Proposed Tax Rate Below Rollback Rate

A long, curved table with nameplates on it in front of the Seal of the City of Gulfport — Gulfport City Council sets a proposed tax rate below the rollback rate as taxable property values increase by nearly $47.9 million.
*Photo by Cameron Healy*

Gulfport City Council unanimously approved a tentative property tax rate of 4.0258 mills on July 21, keeping the City’s rate unchanged for the coming fiscal year despite a nearly $47.9 million increase in taxable property values.

The proposed rate is 0.02% below Gulfport’s 4.0266 rollback rate, meaning the City will not advertise the proposal as a tax increase.

City Manager Jim O’Reilly said adopting the slightly higher rollback rate would have generated only about $5,000 in additional revenue.

“We looked at it from both sides,” O’Reilly said. “The amount that you would increase it — it was very minimal.”

Property Values Increase

Gulfport’s taxable property value increased by $47,878,588, or 1.17%, compared with the previous year’s final valuation.

The proposed rate equals about $4.03 for every $1,000 of taxable property value. While the millage rate remains unchanged, individual property owners could still see changes in their City tax bills if their property values have increased or decreased.

The July vote did not finalize the rate. Instead, it established the tentative millage rate that will appear on property tax notices ahead of the City’s budget hearings.

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That’s not all that happened at the July 21 Gulfport City Council meeting. Read about the Casino Dock Project, Lions Club demolition, new welcome sign, planning support, utility billing system, Veterans Park Shoreline Restoration Project, and what we overheard.

a graphic that reads "How does millage affect my tax bill? Using the equation of Taxable value divided by 1,000 times millage rate equals property tax owed." — Council sets proposed rate below rollback rate while Florida Cities consider possible budget cuts.
*Example courtesy of the Pinellas County Tax Collector*

Budget Hearings Scheduled

The City Council will hold public hearings on the proposed millage rate and budget at 6 p.m. Sept. 3 and Sept. 15 at Gulfport City Hall.

The City can lower the tentative rate during the budget process, but raising it would require Gulfport to mail notices to every taxpayer at the City’s expense.

Gulfport will begin publicly reviewing its proposed budget during an Aug. 6 workshop.

Officials Consider Potential Statewide Tax Changes

Before the vote, Mayor Karen Love said municipalities throughout Florida are considering how a pending property tax referendum could affect their budgets.

She said some Cities are preparing separate budgets showing how operations could change with or without the proposed changes.

“These are the real conversations that have to take place among our council and all the councils all across the state of Florida right now,” Love said.

The Gulfport City Council’s next meeting is Aug. 4 at 6 p.m.

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