27/08/2023
Importan reading:
From a concerned citizen
Bill Carlson is the only council member opposed to this increase.
Tampa City Council Member, District 4
“ I am opposed to the Mayor’s increase in the millage rate because of the following data. Numbers have no bias, they are just numbers and here they are:
The Mayor’s 2024 Budget recommends revenue in property taxes of $387,520,000, an increase of 28.5 % from 2023’s final projection of $301,500,000!
The 2020 Actual revenue was $220,790,000 so the Mayor seeks an increase of 76% from 4 years ago!
Yes, Tampa’s population is growing, but it is not growing at these rates. Our population growth from 2010 to 2020, per the US Census, was 14.4% in 10 Years!
Our population, per US Census estimates, was 384,173 in 2020 and 398,173 in 2022, an increase of only 14,000 people in 2 years.
What the Mayor is proposing is an increase from $575 per person in the year 2020 to $969 per person in the year 2024!!!!!!
Our Revenue from Property Taxes in the General Fund of the City automatically increases by the purchase of sale of property without any need for an increase in the millage rate. Below are just a few properties within the City limits that have sold in the past 2 years that automatically increase our property tax revenue:
>Novel Midtown $236,500,000
>Nine 15 Apartments $184,000,000
>Delmar $132,800,000
>Ave Riverwalk $124,700,000
>Wells Fargo Office $120,000,000
>Bleeker Hyde Park $115,000,000
>Ybor Lofts $90,600,000
In addition, just one project alone, the Ritz Carlton on Bayshore which replaces Bay Oaks apartments, should increase Tampa’s property revenue for one year by over $2,500,000 alone…just one property!
Therefore, I implore you to SAY NO to the Mayor’s increase in the Millage Rate increase and, therefore, to not approve her budget as proposed”.
