A budget work session will be held to review and discuss items related to the FY 2020 Recommended Budget and the tax rates to be advertised for 2019.
The State Code requires counties to hold a public hearing prior to budget adoption and to advertise a brief synopsis of the budget at least seven days prior to the public hearing. The ad will be published in The Free Lance-Star on March 18th for the March 26th public hearing to be held at Massaponax High School.
In order to determine what advertisements are necessary and to provide sufficient time to meet the State's advertisement requirements, staff is seeking the Board's direction on the tax rates to advertise for 2019. The table below shows the 2018 tax rates and those recommended for 2019. The FY 2020 Recommended Budget is based on the rates shown below as "2019 Recommended."
| Tax |
2018 Rate |
2019 Recommended |
| Real Estate |
$0.8330 |
$0.8330 |
| Personal Property - Boats/Boat Trailers |
$6.25 |
$6.25 |
| Personal Property - Other Than Boats/Boat Trailers |
$6.55 |
$6.55 |
| Aircraft |
$0.000001 |
$0.000001 |
| Business Furniture & Fixtures |
$5.95 |
$5.95 |
| Data Center Computer Equipment & Peripherals |
$5.95 |
$1.25 |
| Mobile Homes |
$0.8330 |
$0.8330 |
| Machinery & Tools |
$2.50 |
$2.50 |
| Heavy Duty Equipment |
$2.00 |
$2.00 |
| Massaponax Service District |
$0.16 |
$0.16 |
| Harrison Crossing Service District |
$0.50 |
$0.50 |
| Lee Hill East Service District |
$0.25 |
$0.25 |
| Lee Hill West Service District |
$0.48 |
$0.48 |
Note that the data center classification of business personal property is new for 2019. There are currently no data centers in the County, but based on State Code, they are to be established as a separate class of property for taxation. In preparation for the potential of data centers in the County, a separate classification and rate is proposed for 2019.
Staff will be available to answer questions.