Maitland votes down tax increase

The Maitland City Council unanimously voted against a previously proposed property tax increase on Monday in favor of keeping a millage rate identical to the one the city has maintained for the past five years.

After finalizing the 2013 fiscal year budget, the Council decided to reduce the proposed millage rate from 3.93 back to 3.88 with an additional debt service millage of .44 for a total rate of 4.32, meaning residents can expect to pay roughly $4.32 per $1,000 of taxable home value.

A homeowner with a house with a total taxable value of $250,000 can expect a $15 savings on their property tax bill compared to the initial estimate.

“I hope that makes some noise… that we join a few other communities who’ve done everything else necessary to not have a tax increase,” said Councilman Phil Bonus, who had consistently voted against the tax increase.

Keeping the 3.88 millage, where the rate’s been set since 2007, results in roughly $93,000 less revenue for he city than with the preciously proposed 3.93 rate, Management Services Director Sharon Anselmo said.

The decision to keep the lower rate came following a debate over city staff salaries, and whether the city could justify raising taxes to raise the salary of employees. A 2.5 percent merit-based pay raise for all employees was already budgeted, but Council members debated giving more after seeing the initial results of a market survey showing the city’s staffing salaries were below market value.

Councilman Ivan Valdes said, “I can’t see asking the citizens to pay more for salary increases. … I can’t sit here and say let’s throw things out that the citizens enjoy… just so that we can make pay raises.”

For a detailed review of the budget passed by the Maitland City Council on Sept. 24, visit itsmymaitland.com

At the 3.88 millage rate, he noted, the city had its entire budget balanced with $2,223 to spare and that salaries could be changed as needed with other funds already set aside.

Anselmo said the budget allocated $311,000 for salary adjustments in 2012, and that in this budget pay plan, changes will have to be made within that funding.

The approved budget also allocated funding for both state and federal lobbyists, keeping the Maitland Public Library open on Mondays, and funding an additional part-time position within the fire department.