Bartow officials cite need for more firefighters and police in proposal for tax increase

As proposed tax notices hit mailboxes last week, some Bartow residents may have experienced sticker shock over the anticipated increases.

But city leaders say the move is needed to keep up with growth and first-responder services residents expect.

Also: Bartow to score two new soccer fields despite opposition to plans over number of trees affected

Bartow city manager retires: City to consider recruiter to find replacement

The Bartow Board of Commissioners will conduct a first reading on the measure to increase taxes at its regularly scheduled meeting at 6 p.m. on Sept. 7, taking the first step toward increasing its fire assessment fee and its property tax millage rate.

TRIM (Truth in Millage) notices from the Polk County Property Appraisers Office were mailed to taxpayers in Bartow on Aug. 17 showing the proposed increase.

How millage rate affects Bartow homeowners' property taxes

In Bartow, the millage rate used to calculate local property taxes in Bartow could go up to 4.6080 mils, an increase from 4.0 mils last year.

The millage rate determines the amount of property value used to calculate local property taxes. One mil represents $1,000 in the calculation of taxes.

Taxpayers also can take advantage of a potential $50,000 Homestead Exemption if their home is a primary residence in Florida.

The exemption adjusts the home value lower before the tax is calculated. The first half of the exemption allows for up to a $25,000 exemption applied against all taxing authorities. The second $25,000 exemption reduces a homeowner’s school board levy.

Taxes are calculated based on the assessed value after all exemptions are applied. A mill is based on $1,000 of value. For example, if a home’s net assessed value is $300,000 then the homeowner is responsible to pay $1,382.40 in property tax – based on Bartow’s proposed 4.6080 mileage rate.

Parks director: Lakeland should consider tax for future growth, maintenance

A vote two weeks later could make the tax increases permanent for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. The increases could mean the fire department can hire three more firefighters and four more police officers, among other expenditures in the budget.

In July, the city commissioners proposed a 77% increase to the city’s fire assessment fee up from 50%, based on numbers discussed at recent public meetings. This would be the second annual increase as the fee had risen 25% in the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

The remainder of fire department budget comes from the city's general fund.

The percentage would raise funds to cover the estimated budget of $2,165,094 for fire protection services during the fiscal year 2022-2023, a report submitted to the commission by the fire chief said. Eventually, the fire department could need more firefighters and a second station to house the first responders.

Bartow police chief explains need for more officers to keep up with growth

The police department explained there were 17,323 residents living in Bartow in 2011 when there were 1,150 crimes. By 2021 there were 19,539 residents and 402 crimes.

Police chief Bryan S. Dorman said training, accreditation, equipment upgrades and additional police officers has lowered the crime rate over the past decade and kept response rates acceptable. Still, more police officers will be needed as city growth accelerates. He asked for a total of seven officers eventually, as well as new equipment such as more patrol cars.

This would keep response times at appropriate levels while maintaining morale in the department as the city’s first responders are being asked to work overtime and need to be able to take time off to spend with their families.

Other tax news: Tax for conservation lands going on ballot in Polk County

The fiscal year in Bartow starts Oct. 1, a month after the proposed ordinances could pass to raise the fire assessment and the ad valorem taxes could be voted on.

The final tax roll will be prepared by the county’s Property Appraiser's Office around Oct 1 and will send taxing authorities a DR-422 form for them to complete and return.

With final millage rates reported to the appraiser, its staff then enters the final rates into the system that calculates the final tax roll with extended tax calculations and forward that information to the Tax Collector for processing.

The Fire Assessment is a set value per building or unit so a homeowner with a detached garage would pay for fire service for both buildings regardless of the property value.

These increases have been deemed essential in order to cover the expansion in recent years of Bartow’s fire and police services, especially as approvals of new housing developments have mushroomed in recent years.

Growth and development in Bartow

For decades, Bartow had escaped the bulldozers of rapid growth and development that had been promised by past generations of city leaders after Interstate 4 construction was completed, Mayor Steven Githens said.

In September, a Bartow-area development just 7 miles from downtown gained approvals from the Polk County Commissioners. Highland Homes is set to build 562 single-family homes on property off U.S. 98 north of Bartow, along Crews Lake Drive. 

Elsewhere: Lakeland may raise property taxes to fund nearly $3 million in public safety initiatives

A year earlier, the city of Bartow approved the Wind Meadows South subdivision project for developer Center State Development, LLC. That development is expected to add 836 homes. There are now 100 homes now under construction in that new development.

The city anticipates with those and other developments in the pipeline about another 2,000 residents in a short number of years.

"That's awfully fast growth for Bartow," Githens said. "It's pretty amazing what is coming to Bartow."

As the county seat, Bartow also has a large share of public buildings occupied by government workers during the day who use city infrastructure during rush hour but do not live nor pay city taxes, Githens said.  

“All the people who work in those buildings do not live in Bartow.” he said.

That means there are a lot of buildings that do not produce any income for the city of Bartow.

Meanwhile: Winter Haven's $216.2 million budget plan: Lower tax rate, but most homeowners will pay more

During budget talks and recent commission meetings, both the chiefs of police and fire departments gave presentations during a commissioner’s workshop, saying they needed a second fire station and six more firefighters and the police department needs seven more police officer.

“It is just imperative for the safety of our people,” Githens said.

On hearing of the proposed rise in taxes, however, resident Michelle Pink had strong words for the Bartow City Commission during one recent meeting.

“You’re killing the senior citizens,” she said, adding those on fixed incomes in her 55-plus retirement community would struggle the most with the tax increases.

“You really need to start thinking about the people who pay the taxes,” Pink, a resident of the 103-homes Oak Hammock at 2455 US Highway17 South, said.

Pink questioned the need for so many new vehicles for the city departments, and all while asking why mobile home park residents have to pay property taxes when they do not own the lots where their homes reside.

In response to commissioners saying the fire department has needed additional funding for 15 years, Pink replied, "I've only been here for four years, why should I be paying for their neglect?"

She noted that while a majority of the commissioners seemed to have made up their minds, she thanked Commissioner Leo Longworth for at least considering keeping the fire assessment at its current 50% level.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Bartow homeowners could see increase in property taxes under proposal