Tallahassee residents gathered in City Hall late Wednesday to voice their concerns over the proposed property tax increase.
In the preliminary budget plan, the property-tax hike will increase the Tallahassee Police Department’s budget by nearly $9.5 million to cover the cost of hiring more officers and provide TPD with access to updated technology, including video, software and artificial intelligence technology.
“A majority of property owners will see a monthly increase in tax of $3.50 or less,” said Robert Williams, director of Resource Management for the city.
“[With] a majority of multi-family property [owners seeing] an increase of $2 or less [monthly].”
Although these averages may seem small, this increase will have a detrimental effect on those who are already struggling to make ends meet.
Tallahassee native and small business owner Caroline McCampbell said, “I have owned rentals in the city of Tallahassee since 2013, and 90% of our rentals have been [occupied] by single women with children.”
“Due to a 200% increase in condominium fees, we recently had to raise our rent higher than usual. [This resulted in] some of our renters having to get second jobs,” McCampbell added. “With an increase in property taxes, it [will be] difficult to provide affordable rent.”
Commissioner Jeremy Matlow suggested there are other alternatives than raising taxes to address TPD’s funding needs.
Instead of racing to raise taxes, Matlow suggested city staff members look into departments that have unnecessary spending and top city executives’ salaries whose salaries nearly double those of lower paying city workers.
“I see a lot of spending across departments that do not need to be spent. [This] includes unnecessary travel that’s not related to any type of professional development,” Matlow said.
Matlow exclaimed that, “[In this budget] at a 5% increase, everybody who makes $200,000 will get a $10,000 annual increase, [which compares to] about 50% of the people at the bottom’s paycheck who makes $12 an hour.”
Matlow fears that with affordable housing already scarce, raising rents right now will dramatically affect citizens who are paid minimum wage.
“In an era right now with housing rates out of control, by raising these taxes, we are declaring a rental increase on everybody in our community,” Matlow said.
“With the stroke of a pen, we are raising everybody’s rent.”
Along the usual lines, the commissioners voted 3-2 to accept the preliminary budget plan, with Commissioners Matlow and Jack Porter in opposition. The next public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 27.