It was unanimous Tuesday night as the Jacksonville City Council voted to lower the property tax millage rate for the upcoming year.
The amount will be finalized after a public hearing in September, but the reduction approved Tuesday would amount to a little over $12 per $100,000 in taxable value.
The 1/8-mill reduction would be the first since 2007. But it's not enough for Councilman Danny Becton.
“Because our economy’s in shambles, inflation is at 9.6%, our taxpayers are paying more in rents, mortgages, gasoline, food," Becton said. "I mean, they’re being — we’re all being — we are those people. And we all know what our bills look like.”
Council approved setting the city's tax rate at 11.3169 mills, or $11.3169 per $1,000 of taxable property value. It approved a different rate for Baldwin and the Beaches: 9.526 mills in Baldwin and 8.0262 mills at the Beaches.
A mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of taxable value.
Becton said property owners shouldn’t expect large reductions in their final tax bills — if any. That’s because property values are on such a steep rise.
Because of rising property values, the owner of a median-valued home will still pay $40 more than last year in city taxes — but $24 less than they would have if the tax rate wasn't lowered.
Becton said he’ll push for a further millage rate decrease as budget talks continue this summer. Council could still lower the rate it approved Tuesday, but it could not increase it under state law.