L et your vo i ce b e h e a r d
RICH ROY
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
VICE PRESIDENT
BE HEARD
DURING THE
FY 2015-16 CITY
OF LAKELAND
BUDGET
PLANNING
SEASON.
WE URGE ALL
RESIDENTS
AND
BUSINESSES
WHO MAY HAVE
CONCERNS
ABOUT
TAX RATES
OR OTHER
PROGRAMS
TO GET THEIR
VIEWS ON THE
RECORD. IT
DOES MAKE A
DIFFERENCE!
During the next
few weeks, the City
of Lakeland will be
adopting a budget for
the new fiscal year.
Public budget
hearings are tentatively
scheduled to be held
on June 9th & 10th.
It is a tremendous
opportunity for
residents to learn more
about how the city
staff and commission
prioritize specific
budget items. We
urge all residents and
businesses who may
have concerns about
tax rates or other
programs to get their
views on the record. It
does make a difference!
Because of a lower
than expected revenue
stream and expenses
exceeding income, this
year’s budget cycle
has local government
seeking to implement
a fire assessment fee
to maintain services.
Following the May 18,
2015 City Commission
meeting, staff was
given direction to move
forward with a fee
schedule that would
see a $0.2717 per sq/
ft fee on commercial
property and $0.0605
per sq/ft fee on
Industrial/Warehouse
property to be levied
at a maximum
of 50% of these
originally proposed
fees. Following
discussion and debate,
the Commission
recommended to
exempt institutional,
religious, non-profit
and governmental
entities from the above
fees.
Residential rates
were originally
proposed at $207.49
annually for single
family, duplex and
mobile homes, while
multi-family would
see an annual cost of
$135.94. These fees
would also be levied
at a maximum of
50% of those original
numbers, with
additional tier options
also being considered
based upon size of
the home. Various
tiers are also being
discussed as it relates
to the fees for vacant
lands.
Timeline for
implementation of the
above fees would take
place initially on June
15, 2015 during first
reading of the fire fee
with final approval set
for the July 6, 2015 City
Commission meeting.
Citizens or members
of the business
community who
may have questions
as to how this will
impact them and
their business are
recommended to
contact their city
commissioner to voice
any concerns they may
have. For that reason,
now is the time to
pay close attention to
what is going on in the
County Commission
and, if you live in
Lakeland, in City Hall.
During the next few
months, city staff and
commissioners will
decide how to spend
your tax money. And
those decisions will
impact your life, and
the lives of your family
and neighbors for the
next year.
Now is the time to
make your voice heard:
whether you want
more services, and
are willing to pay for
them, or whether your
tax bill is too high and
you are willing to do
without some services.
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