County board approves final millage rate and budget
The Lee County Board of County Commissioners held the line on the fiscal year 2023-24 tax rate.
The county reported that the commission voted to adopt a $2.5 billion budget at the second and final budget hearing on Sept. 19. The upcoming year’s budget includes no increases in county tax rates.
Officials outlined the following from the approved budget:
– The county is charging the same tax rates next year as this year. The tax rate has not changed.
– If you are a homeowner who has a homestead exemption, your assessed value of your home cannot increase more than 3% and may decrease, depending on the appraised value of your home after Hurricane Ian, per the Lee County Property Appraiser.
– Countywide taxable values increased, on average, 6.67% this year, which brought in new revenues to build back public infrastructure after Ian and for needed resources at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Medical Services, and Transit.
– The Lee County Hyacinth Control District and Lee County Mosquito Control District are independent special districts with taxing authority and do not fall under the county commission.
The county added that the General Fund tax rate next year is 3.7623 mills, which is the same as the current fiscal year. The tax was reduced from 3.8623 mills in 2022 and 4.0506 mills in 2021.