Seminole County Commission wants to raise your property taxes

The Seminole County commission voted unanimously 5-0 in late July to raise the maximum millage rate for county property taxes. You can watch the actual video of the vote on the county's website. It is #54 on their agenda.

The 2007 millage rate was 4.3578, and the new 2008 proposed millage rate is 4.5153. This is a 3.6% increase from last year.

At the same time assessed values have skyrocketed throughout Seminole County as well as the rest of the state. The property appraiser's office has interesting statistics on their website. Considering the taxable assessed values have increased about 66% since 2003, their is no excuse for the county needing to raise taxes. Certainly inflation has not increased anywhere near 66% during this time, but the county's wasteful budget certainly has increased through the roof.

At least the county has done some major cutbacks in the last year including cutting many employees jobs and lowering the salaries of the county commissioners, but there is still plenty of room to cut deeper.

Sadly some of these county commissioners are calling themselves staunch conservatives as they run for re-election in 2008. Yet, they voted unanimously to increase the millage rate and raise everyone's taxes. That sure doesn't sound conservative to me.

Fortunately this Tuesday, August 26, you do have a choice to make your voice heard in the primary elections. If you do not like how your Seminole County commissioner voted, you have the chance to vote them out of office. Some of the county commission races are very close and a few votes either way could determine who wins the election.

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