FELLSMERE — The Fellsmere City Council met before a mostly empty room Thursday evening when it approved its $10.9 million budget and set its lower tax rate during the first of two public hearings.
The second hearing, which would be the last chance for residents to voice opinions on the rate and budget, will be held on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m.
The proposed tax rate is 5.5309 mills – or slightly more than $5.53 per $1,000 taxable value on a property – which is lower than the current rate of 5.6190 mills.
“We’ve rolled back the millage rate,” City Manager Jason Nunemaker said, “which is a good thing.”
Due to a slight increase in property values, the lower proposed rate is expected to bring in the same amount of revenue as the current rate. The City of Fellsmere saw a nearly 4 percent increase in property values, bringing the city’s overall gross taxable value to $91.8 million.
Under the not quite $11 million budget for the 2014-15 fiscal year, Fellsmere City Manager expects to add an officer to the Fellsmere Police Department’s force as well as hire a part-time Public Works Department employee.
City employees would receive a 3 percent cost of living adjustment to their salaries.
Two other public hearings are scheduled for Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. to address changes to the water and waste water rates as well as building permit fees.
The City of Fellsmere is considering increasing the water and waste water rates 1.4 percent in keeping with the consumer price index.
Building permit fees are expected to increase by approximately 12 percent, according to Fellsmere Finance Director Larry Napier. Nunemaker said it has been a decade since the fee schedule had been revised.