Anna Maria commissioners unanimously adopted a tax increase for property owners Sept. 23.
When the 2021-22 fiscal year begins Oct. 1, Anna Maria taxpayers will face a tax hike, due in part to a $71,033,954 increase in property values and the approved millage rate of 2.05 mills.
Millage is the number of dollars taxed per $1,000 of property value and determines the ad valorem tax revenue for the year.
At 2.05 mills, the owner of a property valued at $500,000 would pay $1,025 in ad valorem tax.
At the rollback rate of 1.8427 mills, using the same $500,000 example, a property owner would pay $921 in ad valorem taxes.
The rollback rate provides the city with the same amount of ad valorem revenue for the next fiscal year as it did this year.
Any percent of increase over the rollback — including keeping the rate the same — amounts to a tax increase.
The millage rate approved by commissioners exceeds the rollback rate by 11.25%, the percent of increase property owners will pay the city in the 2021-22 fiscal year.
The motion to adopt the millage rate was made by Commissioner Doug Copeland and seconded by Commissioner Deanie Sebring.
The motion to adopt the 2021-22 budget — with $4,409,997.99 in spending — was made by Commissioner Mark Short and seconded by Copeland.
And the motion to adopt an ordinance authorizing the county tax collector to receive the 2021 ad valorem tax payment from the city was made by Commissioner Jonathan Crane and seconded by Short.
All three motions passed unanimously.
“We have a budget!” Commission Chair Carol Carter announced when voting on the three measures concluded.
Mayor Dan Murphy commended the commission’s fiscal responsibility.
“I think it’s important that the public knows: our millage rate continues to be the very lowest in the county. By far, we’re lower than any other city in this county and we’ve maintained this millage rate now for well over 10 years without increasing. Yes, the property values have gone up, but where other cities have raised their millage rate, this city has not. I think it’s a sign of good fiscal responsibility on the part of our commission,” Murphy said.
Before adjourning the 11-minute meeting, Carter turned the compliment back on the mayor and city treasurer LeAnne Addy, commending the research and recommendations they provided to the commission to consider the budget.
Anna Maria City Hall is at 10005 Gulf Drive.
For more information, call the clerk’s office at 941-708-6130.