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Seminole County Commission approves property tax hike to fund fire service

By Ken Tyndall
By Ken Tyndall
After hearing on Tuesday from residents both for and against a proposed property tax increase, the Seminole County Commission voted to approve the plan, which could mean some might see an 11 percent hike in taxes.
The increase was put in place to help keep Seminole County Fire Rescue operating, officials said.
How much the tax increase impacts an individual property owner depends on where they live, commissioners said.
Many of the residents speaking during the commission’s meeting Tuesday were adamantly against the increase.
Mike Collins argued that trimming the fat in government should have been done before a tax hike was considered.
“They need to cut waste, fraud and abuse that could be cut, before they come back and raise taxes,” he said.
People living in unincorporated Seminole County who are served by the county fire service will see the largest property tax increase.
The fire service has been using its reserve fund to continue operating and officials said without the tax increase the fund would be depleted in about a year.
Several years ago the millage rate for the fire service was lowered, so commissioners argued that the amount of the increase was misleading.
Under the plan, some people in Seminole County would see their tax payments decrease.
While many spoke against the tax hike, there were some at Tuesday’s meeting who appreciated the move.
“After 10 years of underfunding the fire department, I’m glad to see you fund it properly,” one resident said during the meeting.
The new property tax rates will go into effect in October.

Cox Media Group

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