Maitland moves for property tax hike

Maitland City Council members have a dream that one day each of the city’s essential and non-essential services will go back to being fairly funded in accordance to its needs, instead of being constantly squeezed – an unwelcomed reality since the recession.

And, that day could come next year, if residents are willing to pay.

On Monday, July 22, the Council unanimously voted in favor of setting the tentative operating millage rate for fiscal year 2014 at 4.10 mills – $4.10 per $1,000 of taxable value – up from 3.88 where the rate has stayed since 2007.

Council members rationalized the jump, which would have average residents owning homes valued at $300,000 paying $66 more in taxes per year, by doling out additionally requested funding including $188,280 earmarked for city parks, $37,000 for library needs and $6,000 for Performing Arts of Maitland programming. The proposed $22.66 million budget, down 2.7 percent from this fiscal year, would also include unfreezing four city positions, including two grounds keepers, a facilities worker and a communications coordinator.

“This is the time we can dream and talk about it and then get feedback from our residents,” Mayor Howard Schieferdecker said.

The tentative 4.10 rate will be advertised on notices sent out next week, and then be discussed back on Council with public input on Sept. 9 when the rate can be lowered or kept as advertised. Last year the Council proposed an increase to 3.93, but backed down after public comment to keep the rate steady at 3.88.

By laying out the additional services that could be provided with the bump in taxes, Councilman John Lowndes said he hoped residents would be more amiable to the idea.

“We don’t want to unnecessarily rile people up, I think we have to have a principled budget,” Lowndes said.

Resident Dale McDonald said he thinks the raise is an overdue request needed to keep the city on track before deterioration of certain underfunded assets, such as parks and other facilities, continue.

“The city’s a business, and we’re in the business of providing services, and I believe our residents are into seeing us blow money back into our business, because that’s a win for everybody,” McDonald said.

Other residents, such as Elizabeth Schneider-Peele, said the city needs to be focused on appropriately funding only basic essential services, and then going back to see what’s leftover to fund non-essential offerings.

Since 2007, departments citywide have taken cuts, leaning out to sustain dwindling amounts of city revenue, which saw only a slight up-tick in this budget year with little to none coming from new development, said Assistant City Manager Sharon Anselmo.

Councilman Ivan Valdes said of those departments that asked for additional funding to keep up the quality of their services, he doesn’t want to have to pick and choose for priority.

“I want it all, I don’t want one at the cost of another,” Valdes said. “… Let’s find a way to do it all, and let’s see if our residents want to pay for it.”