Bartow City Commissioners review proposed property tax package
Concerns over what the impact might or will be should voters approve the property tax Amendment 3 were the main focus of the Aug. 17 City of Bartow Commissioners’ agenda.
With that, a package explaining what the impact on the city would be should the amendment be approved was presented by Bartow Deputy City Manager Peter Lear. This is what will be made available to citizens at public meetings on Aug. 25, Sept. 24, and Oct. 15; it will also be available online to anyone who cannot or chooses not to attend any of the above public meetings.
According to Lear, the city will lose approximately $2.08 million in the first year (effective January 2027). It will increase to $3.43 million, then by the fifth year, after all proposed changes are fully implemented, the deficit to the city is an estimated $5.08 million.
“If approved, the current homestead exemption will increase from $50,000 to $150,000 starting January 2027; one year later, up to $250,000,” said Lear, who added that, in essence, reduces the amount of revenue or potential revenue. “It does not change the cost of any services we have.” In addition, should the proposal gain the 60 percent approval needed, not included is the creation of a state trust fund. “So, for right now, there is no replacement revenue for this loss.”
As Lear continued, for a homeowner whose property is assessed at $261,000, that person’s 2026 property tax bill is $3,618, which includes the school system, the county, SWFMD (Southwest Florida Water Management District), and city assessments (a/k/a fees).
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
The proposed Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget is $36 million $25,922,547). To make up this potential shortfall, a loss of an estimated $2.08 million is currently under evaluation.
As Lear explained, a tax shift is what would occur should Amendment 3 pass. While homeowners whose property is below $250,000 would have a smaller city bill, those whose property is above $250,000, as well as those who own commercial property, will bear a larger bill.
It could lead to increases in millage rates; a millage rate is the amount per $1,000 of property value that is used to calculate property taxes. It is determined by local governments and can vary based on the services provided, such as county, city, and school district taxes. The current millage rate in Bartow for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 is 11.9 mills, unchanged from the previous fiscal year.
Another approach the city will have to consider is raising impact fees, which include but are not limited to (as examples) water/wastewater, police, and fire.
One way or another, per Lear, the cost is going to be passed on, whether through local businesses charging higher prices or through increases in rent.
There are other options.
“Or the other alternative is you cut critical services,” he said. “Such as closing libraries for a couple of days a week, or the parks, or a combination of both.”
Among the examples provided were Nye Jordan and Richland Manor parks, as well as the maintenance building on Mill Avenue.
Reduction in staff is/was another consideration, including public safety. That, in turn, could lead to lengthier response times. Then there are concerns regarding hurricanes.
“There would be no new or improved city amendments or facilities with that loss of revenue,” said Lear. “
Following the presentation, which included additional information and comments from John Hall, the Utilities Director/Water Reclamation Facility, Commissioner Trish Pfeiffer weighed in.
She said that while she didn’t have anything to add to the presentation, it was/is important to get the community concerned and involved. A suggestion she proposed was to set up a workstation at each of the three public meeting sites where residents could pull up their tax bill.
But that was not her only comment.
“Another thing I’ve heard is that we need to do away with this because people are losing their homes because they are not paying their bill,” said Pfeiffer. “Well, that’s not true. “It has nothing to do with assessments.” Homes, she added, could be lost via liens imposed.
But that is not what stokes her ire.
“I’m really annoyed about the fact the government — the state — is telling us how we can spend the money,” she said. “That’s really crossing the line.” She then faulted the legislators in Tallahassee, citing two speakers at a recent conference she attended: Jeff Brandis and Jeff Reynos, the latter a former state senator. “What he said, which is true, is that they rushed to a decision; they did not think about the consequences.”
PUBLIC MEETINGS SCHEDULE
For more information, the City of Bartow will hold a community meeting on property tax reform and the city budget on August 25 from 6 to 8 PM at the Bartow Civic Center.
(This meeting will be broadcast on Facebook, Boxcast, and for later viewing on the city’s YouTube channel)
Sept. 24
6-8 p.m.
Polk Street Community Center
1255 W. Polk St.
Oct.15
6-8 p.m.
Carver Recreation Center
520 Herbert Dixon Boulevard
