Maitland keeps tax hike on the table

Maitland property owners are one City Council vote away from paying an estimated 11 percent more in property taxes next year.

On Monday, Sept. 8, the Maitland City Council unanimously voted to approve a 11.23 percent tax increase, raising the city’s millage rate from 3.88 mills – where it’s sat since 2007 – to 4.2 mills. There’s one more vote before the rate is set in stone on Sept. 22, when the Council can vote to keep the proposed millage the same or lower it.

The proposed 4.2 mills rate was a significant decrease from the Council’s original plan to raise taxes nearly 30 percent to 4.9 mills. Assistant City Manager Sharon Anselmo said with the proposed rate of 4.2 mills, an average homeowner in Maitland owning a home valued at $350,000 with a $50,000 homestead exemption could expect to pay $96 more in taxes than in the previous year.

The increase isn’t as bad as Orlando, which on Monday voted for a property tax jump of nearly 18 percent on a property tax rate that already significantly outpaces Winter Park or Maitland. Orlando’s millage, if enacted, will rise from 5.65 mils to 6.65.

Public input regarding Maitland’s rate change was mixed, residents saying that they want improvements to the city but not at such a drastically increased cost as was proposed with the 4.9 mills rate.

“I agree that we need to improve certain services. I agree that we need to continue to support the (city) staff, but there are other ways,” said resident Brij Seth.

Resident Dale McDonald said he supports a marginal tax increase if money goes into modernizing the city’s infrastructure.

“If we’re actually going to truly commit to be what we say we want to be, it’s not going to be free,” he said.

The Council will host a final public hearing and vote to solidify next year’s tax rate on Monday, Sept. 22, at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers.