The property tax rate in Wilton Manors is increasing by 10%. It sounds like a big number, but it could have been much higher.
City staff found another $600,000 in cuts, savings, and projected revenue to get the increase lowered from a proposed 12%. The tax rate will be 6.4196 mils, or $6.4196 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
The bottom line: a home of average value will see a $317 increase in their city tax.
During their final budget workshop on Aug. 28, City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson laid out the spending plan.
Insurance came in $170,000 under the anticipated cost. Fines from code violations are projected to be $100,000 more than anticipated. Several “big ticket” improvement and maintenance items are being moved or delayed, and there will be cuts in hours to some part-time jobs.
There will be an 11% cut to city employee positions. Layoffs are not expected, but part-time hours will be cut, and open positions will go unfilled.
Employees that are left will be doing more work for smaller raises. The budget reduces the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) by 16% compared to last year. Some want to cut the raises by another 40%.
Mayor Scott Newton warned that balancing the budget on the backs of workers will send them to other cities, potentially creating an exodus and staff shortage similar to the one recently faced by Wilton Manors Police Department.
You can see the presentation and listen to comments here.
The final vote to adopt next year’s budget is expected to take place Sept. 24.
Key Points to Remember:
-Your assessed value, which tax rates are based on, can only increase 3% (if the property is homesteaded)
-There is no cap on how much your property tax bill can increase
-Wilton Manors taxes, per Newton, only account for about 25% of your property tax bill. The county and other taxing authorities make up the rest
