The Jacksonville City Council on Tuesday voted 11-6 against an attempt to tentatively boost the property tax rate by 2%.
The property tax rate for the city of Jacksonville will remain at 11.4419 mills, which raises about $11.44 in taxes per $1,000 of taxable property value, according to WJCT News partner The Florida Times-Union.
City Council Finance Committee Chairman Matt Carlucci proposed increasing that rate by one-quarter mill for the 2020-21 budget, saying it would generate an extra $16.6 million and give council a financial cushion during budget hearings with an option to boost investment in the city.
Related
- City Council Unanimously Approves $75M For St. Johns River Dredging
- Carlucci Talks Jax City Council Leadership, RNC Costs, Social Justice
But a majority of council members said a pandemic that’s causing economic hardship is the wrong time to raise taxes.
Council member LeAnna Cumber said a higher millage rate would increase taxes on “the same people who are emailing and calling constantly saying that they are worried about whether they are going to get a paycheck in the next few months.”
Carlucci said for homestead properties, a quarter mill increase would translate to an extra $12.50 on the tax bill for the owner of a $100,000 home, an additional $37.50 for a $200,000 home, and $112.50 for a $500,000 home.
The owner of a $500,000 piece of commercial property would pay $125 more and on a $1 million property, it would be $250 more in property taxes.
