Sumter County 25% Tax Increase
 

Did anyone catch on page C4 of the Daily Sun the article regarding Sumter County increasing this years property taxes by 25%? Maybe they should not have asked the developer to continue building south of 44.

I saw that and was quite surprised. We’ve had years and years of increasing budgets but had the increased tax base to go along with it so that the rollback rate has resulted in modest tax decreases.

What changed? The tax base continues to increase at a healthy clip. I can’t imagine that the budget had to be increased by that much in one year. I would like to hear an explanation directly from a commissioner. 25% seems outrageous. But, a caution. When they present a preliminary budget/tax rate, the final rate can go down but not up. Maybe they are setting us up for a bait and switch. Threatening 25% now, but settling for something substantially lower. Time will tell.

Full disclosure...I haven’t done any further research beyond what is printed in the Sun.

I just read the article. Not surprised as I have been amazed at how low the property taxes are in TV.

Using zero based budgeting I would insist on a line by line comparison of the previous years actual VS the 25% increase proposal.

Most government organizations have no concept of staying within budget. It is not their money and the process of ever increasing spending resulting in the need for increasing revenues (taxing us!).

With an increasing tax base, as in the past 15 years that we have been here, there should be no reason for an increase let alone a 25% increase.

Let us not fall for the 25% bait then switching to a lower number to make the tax payer feel like they won one.

There needs to be an accounting for ANY INCREASE!!

We are in our 13 year in TV and Sumter County. Frankly, I’ve been wondering when our property real estate tax would go in a different direction. Taxes have been going lower almost every year. It’s been too good to be sustainable. One thought to remember. Commissioners live in Sumter County too. That means their taxes will go up just the same as the rest of the residents of Sumter County. They will, like in the past, be very prudent about how much to raise taxes on us and themselves. It won’t be close to 25% IMHO.

How low the property taxes are here in TV?

How low compared to where???

They are not low. Paying double what I paid in the People's Republic of Maryland for a two story full basement brick house, 3100 sq feet with two car garage and theater. All on 4 acres.

Time to start reqular reassesments of houses.

Lower than NJ
 

Our taxes went from 12,000 to 2200

The devil is in the detail - read if interested -> https://www.sumtercountyfl.gov/Agend...4?fileID=33700

Page 8 shows the proposed millage increase.

Thanks for the link. I like details. Angels can be in them, too.

I was surprised to see a 25% increase. There should be a substantial increase in incoming revenue from the increase in housing/population. Seems to me that should cover the increase in spending. Like someone else said, if it was their money it would be more wisely used. I must be missing something....

When we lived in NJ , we left in 95'--our taxes were $19K-- compared to NJ we're living for free

We paid much more in TX and insurance was muuuuuuch higher. Read the article and it said it was a "proposal". I do not like increases in taxes but also realize that cost increase for just about everything. Yes you have more people paying more taxes but you have more people using roads, all city/county infrastructure, need more police, fire & paramedics. More employees means a need for schools, teachers and all the cost associated. Each of these will need benefits which have not gotten cheaper. A huge cost for municipals, state and fed is retiree cost as was said in the article. But we should all stay vigilant and hold elected officials responsible/accountable for spending our money. Just need to stay vigilant but not expect cost to stay the same forever.

Sumter County receives tons of extra revenue from the largest growth in Florida. Adding additional real estate tax is corrupt. They must present additional "income" versus the project cost they mentioned. I strongly suggest the Developer Trust and County work out how to pass all costs to homeowners in "Advance". Those that say it is cheaper than where they come from are just referencing an apples vs oranges situation. Too bad County Commissioners (or whatever they are called) have no initiative to protect new residents.

It looks like the increases are in a "special revenue fund". That means the extra $ are meant for specific projects. I wonder what they are.