FELLSMERE — The Fellsmere City Council Thursday night approved its new property tax and water rates and a nearly $12.7 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Residents can expect their property taxes in Fellsmere to remain about the same, as the new tax rate of 5.6190 mills is less than what the city could have levied to take in the same amount of revenue as last year.
Property owners can expect to pay $5.6190 (essentially $5.62) per $1,000 of assessed taxable value on their homes.
Given that property values throughout the city declined 2.2 percent from last year, tax bills should remain ultimately unchanged, according to the city.
City Manager Jason Nunemaker explained to the Fellsmere City Council that the new tax rate is higher than last year’s rate, but because of the property values’ decline, there is no increase to the tax burden placed on property owners.
The $12.69 million budget includes a 2 percent salary increase for the city’s employees – nearly 30 in all.
The council also approved an approximate 1.63 percent increase to its water rates for customers inside and outside the city’s limits. The increase is tied to the Florida Public Service Commission’s deflator index – a measure of price inflation/deflation with respect to a specific base year.
Residential customers inside the city limits can expect their water bill to go up 21 cents for the smallest water meter line. Residential customers outside the city limits can expect the same 21-cent increase plus the pre-existing 25 percent surcharge.
The increase depends on the size of the meter and ranges from 21 cents for the smallest to $1.68 for the largest – for residential customers.
Commercial customers can expect the same increase for the same size meters. The larger meters – starting at 3 inches – will increase between $3.26 and $23.41, for the 10-inch meter.
