The current City of Brooksville millage rate is at 6.6962. The Brooksville City Council set the tentative millage rate at 7.000. They reasoned that this will provide them with flexibility as health insurance rates are expected to increase between 12 and 15% for the upcoming fiscal year. One mil is one dollar per thousand dollars in property value. So a $150,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption would be paying $700 in property taxes if the millage rate is set at 7.
Council member Erhard made a motion to keep the millage rate at 6.6962 seconded by Council member Battista. The motion failed 2 to 3, with only Battista and Erhard voting for it.
Kemerer stated, “Setting the budget at 7% sends a clear message to residents that we’re serious about holding the budget down at the same time gives us a little bit of insurance on our side in case of an unknown… that occurs between now and the finalization of the budget.” There is a millage rate increase cap in the state of Florida based on yearly per capita income.
Vice Mayor Kahler made a motion to set the tentative millage rate at 7.000, seconded by Council member Kemerer. The motion passed 4 to 1 with Council member Erhard voting against it. The first public budget hearing will be held on September 9th at 5:01pm. The final hearing is set for September 16th at 5:01 pm.