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City Of Orlando Finalizes Proposal For 14 Percent Property Tax Increase

Posted: 6:12 pm EDT July 21, 2008Updated: 6:18 pm EDT July 21, 2008

Fourteen percent is how much the city of Orlando wants to raise property taxes to make up for a $30 million shortfall. The city finalized its proposal Monday, but it will have to survive several public hearings to become a reality.

Here's how that 14 percent increase would affect a tax bill. A homesteaded College Park home with a "taxable" value of $64,000 will see an increase of $46 on the tax bill. A Baldwin Park condo with a taxable value of $185,000 would see an increase of $133.

The rate hike limits a lot of the savings people were counting on through Amendment 1. The tax hike is slightly less than commissioners were talking about a week ago, but many homeowners said leaders should be looking inside city hall for savings instead of going after more of their money.

Harry Trevathan says his Delaney Park home and three small rental units cost him about $6,000 in taxes last year and, even with state property tax reform, he's not expecting a break on the next bill.

"Frustrating, very, very frustrating," he said.

Now that frustration is fueled by word that the city of Orlando plans to raise its property tax rate by more than 14 percent.

"I am not going to support this tax increase," said Commissioner Phil Diamond, the lone "no" vote.

Instead of raising taxes, he wants the city to consider other options, like suspending renovations on the Citrus Bowl.

Mayor Dyer insists cuts are part of the plan, like a 15 percent reduction in travel, no holiday bonuses and closing some under-used community centers on Saturdays. But Channel 9 found the city hasn't touched a program that provides Orlando police officers as liaisons to commissioners. A lieutenant who often drives for Mayor Dyer makes almost $95,000 a year.

"The city has been one of the few governments in the past five years who's really lived within its means," Dyer said.

Dyer said he eliminated hundreds of jobs at city hall five years ago, but homeowners like Trevathan think he should take a second look.

"I bet you I could go in there if I was mayor and find millions of dollars in tax savings, just in salaries down there," he said.

Dyer said the goal of his plan to avoid having to touch police and fire budgets. The new tax rate won't become official until September and there will be a few chances for the public to comment before then.
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