STUART — Determined to buck the trend of rising property taxes elsewhere, the Stuart City Commission voted Aug. 25 to lower its millage rate to 4.75 for the next fiscal year — a move that required 16 layoffs but also added four new firefighter positions.
At its second budget workshop, City Manager Michael Mortell reported the city had closed a $3.9 million shortfall by trimming expenses across the board. “We’ve cut pencils, personnel, electric bills, lawn service — everything,” he said. The reductions balanced the budget at the new millage, down from 5.0, costing the city $913,950 in ad valorem revenue.
Finance Director Louis “Jolie” Boglioli explained that while the cut would save the average homeowner only a few dollars, multifamily property owners would see the biggest benefit. He also reminded residents that most of their tax bill goes to the county, schools, and other agencies — not the city…