Commission may raise property taxes as values climb

The St. Augustine Beach City Commission may adopt a property tax increase Thursday. It would keep last year's rate of $2.50 on every $1,000 of taxable value after assessments rose, so the same printed rate takes more.

The packet says that rate is 3 percent higher than the no-increase figure, the amount that would have collected the same money as last year after values rose. The extra take is about $164,000 citywide. On a typical house with $500,000 in taxable value, that is about $36 more than the no-increase rate.

Commissioners tentatively approved the same rate on September 8. A companion vote the same night would adopt next year's city budget.

City worksheets note that a separate debt tax from last year is off this bill and stamp a tax-rate decrease. The $2.50 rate they are keeping still pulls more from the same houses.

The matter is set for 5:00 p.m. Thursday, September 24, at City Hall, 2200 A1A South.