Tax bills will rise for most homeowners in unincorporated Polk County despite a 1% decrease in the millage rate used to calculate property taxes.
Further, the tentative budget for next year raises fees for fire service, as well as trash collection to pay for new contracts with haulers and an expansion of Polk County’s own trucks, all while eliminating the county’s recycling program.
On Monday, the tentative budget for fiscal year 2024-25 is expected to be adopted after a second public hearing from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the County Commission Boardroom at 330 W. Church St. in Bartow. The total tentative budget for Polk County is $2,984,670,147.
A final public hearing will precede the vote and gives residents the opportunity to provide the board with feedback about their tax bills and the county budget.
The millage rate is dropping. How’s that equate to higher taxes?
The millage rate was originally proposed to stay the same for the coming fiscal year starting Oct. 1, but at the last minute, the commission decided to cut the rate by 1%.