The High Springs City Commission voted Thursday on a millage rate ceiling and fire assessment as the city heads down the final stretch of the budget season.
The commissioners approved both the proposed millage rate and fire assessment at the current levels—6.99 mills and $233 per residential dwelling unit respectively. Thursday’s vote means the city has limited itself to not raising the millage rate for the next fiscal year.
However, the actual millage rate could range from the rolled-back rate of 6.3802 up to the current rate.
The state of Florida considers any millage rate above the rolled-back rate—the rate at which the city would collect the same amount of taxes as the prior year after adjusting for changes in property value—an increase in taxes.
The city would collect $3.3 million with the proposed 6.99 rate.
However, Commissioner Tristan Grunder said he will not vote to keep the rate at that level. He said Thursday that his vote was intended as a one-year measure to correct the city’s budget.
He said he’s already spoken to the city manager about his position and wanted to make the other commissioners aware.
“It’s got to come down; it’s got to come down some,” Grunder said. “I know that’s tough, and people at the city aren’t wanting to hear that.”
Last year, the City Commission voted 4-1 to increase the millage rate from 5.99 to 6.99 mills as it faced budget issues. Mayor Katherine Weitz dissented in that vote.
The commissioners also discussed the need to right-size the fire assessment so that the city doesn’t continue to use general revenue funds for fire services.
The tentative and final votes for the fire assessment and millage rate will come on Sept. 12 and Sept. 23 at 6:30 p.m.
The City Commission also approved a one-year contract with Willdan Engineering for code enforcement services.
The city will pay $750 per week to the company, the same rate as the other applicants, but City Manager Jeremy Marshall said he believes the company will provide more professional services.
Willdan Engineering provides municipal services across Florida and Georgia. High Springs will be the first city in Florida to use its code enforcement services, Marshall said. However, the other two applicants would also be doing code enforcement work in Florida for the first time if selected.