200.001 Millages; definitions and general provisions.
200.011 Duty of county commissioners and school board in setting rate of taxation.
200.065 Method of fixing millage.
200.066 Newly created tax units.
200.068 Certification of compliance with this chapter.
200.069 Notice of proposed property taxes and non-ad valorem assessments.
200.071 Limitation of millage; counties.
200.081 Millage limitation; municipalities.
200.091 Referendum to increase millage.
200.101 Referendum for millage in excess of limits.
200.141 Millage following consolidation of city and county functions.
200.151 Millage to replace lost revenue.
200.171 Mandamus to levy tax; limitations.
200.181 Bond payments; tax levies; restrictions.
200.001 Millages; definitions and general provisions.—
(1) County millages shall be composed of four categories of millage rates, as follows:
(a) General county millage, which shall be that nonvoted millage rate set by the governing body of the county.
(b) County debt service millage, which shall be that millage rate necessary to raise taxes for debt service as authorized by a vote of the electors pursuant to s. 12, Art. VII of the State Constitution.
(c) County voted millage, which shall be that millage rate set by the governing body of the county as authorized by a vote of the electors pursuant to s. 9(b), Art. VII of the State Constitution.
(d) County dependent special district millage, as provided in subsection (5).
(2) Municipal millages shall be composed of four categories of millage rates, as follows:
(a) General municipal millage, which shall be that nonvoted millage rate set by the governing body of the municipality.
(b) Municipal debt service millage, which shall be that millage rate necessary to raise taxes for debt service as authorized by a vote of the electors pursuant to s. 12, Art. VII of the State Constitution.
(c) Municipal voted millage, which shall be that millage rate set by the governing body of the municipality as authorized by a vote of the electors pursuant to s. 9(b), Art. VII of the State Constitution.
(d) Municipal dependent special district millage, as provided in subsection (5).
(3) School millages shall be composed of five categories of millage rates, as follows:
(a) Nonvoted required school operating millage, which shall be that nonvoted millage rate set by the county school board for current operating purposes and imposed pursuant to s. 1011.60(6).
(b) Nonvoted discretionary school operating millage, which shall be that nonvoted millage rate set by the county school board for operating purposes other than the rate imposed pursuant to s. 1011.60(6) and other than the rate authorized in s. 1011.71(2).
(c) Voted district school operating millage, which shall be that millage rate set by the district school board for current school operating purposes as authorized by the electors pursuant to s. 9(b), Art. VII of the State Constitution.
(d) Nonvoted district school capital improvement millage, which shall be that millage rate set by the district school board for capital improvements as authorized in s. 1011.71(2).
(e) Voted district school debt service millage, which shall be that millage rate set by the district school board as authorized by a vote of the electors pursuant to s. 12, Art. VII of the State Constitution.
(4) Independent special district millage shall be that millage rate set by the governing body of an independent special district, which shall be identified:
(a) As to whether authorized by a special act approved by the electors pursuant to s. 9(b), Art. VII of the State Constitution, authorized pursuant to s. 15, Art. XII of the State Constitution, or otherwise authorized; and
(b) As to whether levied countywide, less than countywide, or on a multicounty basis.
(5) Dependent special district millage shall be that millage rate set by the board of county commissioners or the governing body of a municipality, ex officio or otherwise, which shall be identified as to the area covered; as to the taxing authority to which the district is dependent; and as to whether authorized by a special act, authorized by a special act and approved by the electors, authorized pursuant to s. 15, Art. XII of the State Constitution, authorized by s. 125.01(1)(q), or otherwise authorized.
(6) At any time millage rates are published for the purpose of giving notice, the rates shall be stated in terms of dollars and cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value.
(7) Millages shall be fixed only by ordinance or resolution of the governing body of the taxing authority in the manner specifically provided by general law or by special act.
(8)(a) “County” means a political subdivision of the state as established pursuant to s. 1, Art. VIII of the State Constitution.
(b) “Municipality” means a municipality created pursuant to general or special law but excludes metropolitan and consolidated governments as provided in s. 6(e) and (f), Art. VIII of the State Constitution, which shall be considered county governments. Such municipality must have held an election for its legislative body pursuant to law and established such a legislative body which meets pursuant to law.
(c) “Special district” means a special district as defined in s. 189.012.
(d) “Dependent special district” means a dependent special district as defined in s. 189.012. Dependent special district millage, when added to the millage of the governing body to which it is dependent, shall not exceed the maximum millage applicable to such governing body.
(e) “Independent special district” means an independent special district as defined in s. 189.012, with the exception of a downtown development authority established prior to the effective date of the State Constitution as an independent body, either appointed or elected, regardless of whether or not the budget is approved by the local governing body, if the district levies a millage authorized as of the effective date of the State Constitution. Independent special district millage shall not be levied in excess of a millage amount authorized by general law and approved by vote of the electors pursuant to s. 9(b), Art. VII of the State Constitution, except for those independent special districts levying millage for water management purposes as provided in that section and municipal service taxing units as specified in s. 125.01(1)(q) and (r). However, independent special district millage authorized as of the date the State Constitution became effective need not be so approved, pursuant to s. 2, Art. XII of the State Constitution.
(f) “Voted millage” or “voted levies” means ad valorem taxes in excess of maximum millage amounts authorized by law approved for periods not longer than 2 years by vote of the electors pursuant to s. 9(b), Art. VII of the State Constitution or ad valorem taxes levied for purposes provided in s. 12, Art. VII of the State Constitution. “Voted millage” does not include levies approved by voter referendum not required by general law or the State Constitution.
(g) “Aggregate millage rate” means that millage rate obtained from the quotient of the sum of all ad valorem taxes levied by the governing body of a county or municipality for countywide or municipality-wide purposes, respectively, plus the ad valorem taxes levied for all districts dependent to the governing body divided by the total taxable value of the county or municipality.
(h) “Dedicated increment value” means the proportion of the cumulative increase in taxable value within a defined geographic area used to determine a tax increment amount to be paid to a redevelopment trust fund pursuant to s. 163.387(2)(a) or to be paid or applied pursuant to an ordinance, resolution, or agreement to fund a project or to finance essential infrastructure. Upon creating any obligation for payment to a redevelopment trust fund or otherwise pursuant to an ordinance, resolution, or agreement to fund a project or to finance essential infrastructure based on an increase in assessed value, the taxing authority shall certify to the property appraiser the boundaries of the designated geographic area and the date of the most recent assessment roll used in connection with the taxation of such property prior to creation of the obligation. If the increment amount payment is not based on a specific proportion of the cumulative increase in taxable value within a defined geographic area, such value shall be reduced by multiplying by a proportion calculated by dividing the payment in the prior year, if any, by the product of the millage rate in the prior year and the cumulative increase in taxable value within the defined geographic area in the prior year. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2008, information provided to the property appraiser after May 1 of any year may not be used for the current year’s certification.
(i) “Per capita Florida personal income” means Florida nominal personal income for the four quarters ending the prior September 30, as published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the United States Department of Commerce, or its successor, divided by the prior April 1 official estimate of Florida resident population pursuant to s. 186.901, which shall be reported by the Office of Economic and Demographic Research by April 1 of each year.
(j) “Total county ad valorem taxes levied” means all property taxes other than voted levies levied by a county, any municipal service taxing units of that county, and any special districts dependent to that county in a fiscal year.
(k) “Total municipal ad valorem taxes levied” means all property taxes other than voted levies levied by a municipality and any special districts dependent to that municipality in a fiscal year.
(l) “Maximum total county ad valorem taxes levied” means the total taxes levied by a county, municipal service taxing units of that county, and special districts dependent to that county at their individual maximum millages, calculated pursuant to s. 200.065(5)(a) for fiscal years 2009-2010 and thereafter.
(m) “Maximum total municipal ad valorem taxes levied” means the total taxes levied by a municipality and special districts dependent to that municipality at their individual maximum millages, calculated pursuant to s. 200.065(5)(b) for fiscal years 2009-2010 and thereafter.
200.011 Duty of county commissioners and school board in setting rate of taxation.—
(1) The county commissioners shall determine the amount to be raised for all county purposes, except for county school purposes, and shall enter upon their minutes the rates to be levied for each fund respectively, together with the rates certified to be levied by the board of county commissioners for use of the county, special taxing district, board, agency, or other taxing unit within the county for which the board of county commissioners is required by law to levy taxes.
(2) The county commissioners shall ascertain the aggregate rate necessary to cover all such taxes and certify the same to the property appraiser within 30 days after the adjournment of the value adjustment board. The property appraiser shall carry out the full amount of taxes for all county purposes, except for school purposes, under one heading in the assessment roll to be provided for that purpose, and the county commissioners shall notify the clerk and auditor and tax collector of the county of the amounts to be apportioned to the different accounts out of the total taxes levied for all purposes.
(3) The county depository, in issuing receipts to the tax collector, shall state in each of his or her receipts, which shall be in duplicate, the amount deposited to each fund out of the deposits made with it by the tax collector. When any such receipts shall be given to the tax collector by the county depository, the tax collector shall immediately file one of the same with the clerk and auditor of the county, who shall credit the same to the tax collector with the amount thereof and make out and deliver to the tax collector a certificate setting forth the payment in detail, as shown by the receipt of the county depository.
(4) The county commissioners and school board shall file written statements with the property appraiser setting forth the boundary of each special school district and the district or territory in which other special taxes are to be assessed, and the property appraiser shall, upon receipt of such statements and orders from the board of county commissioners and school board setting forth the rate of taxation to be levied on the real and personal property therein, proceed to assess such property and enter the taxes thereon in the assessment rolls to be provided for that purpose.
(5) The property appraiser shall designate and separately identify by certificate to the tax collector the rate of taxation to be levied for the use of the county and school board and the total rate of taxation for all other taxing authorities in the county.
(6) The board of county commissioners shall certify to the property appraiser and tax collector the millage rates to be levied for the use of the county and special taxing districts, boards, and authorities and all other taxing units within the county for which the board of county commissioners is required by law to levy taxes. The district school board, each municipality, and the governing board or governing authority of each special taxing district or other taxing unit within the county the taxes of which are assessed on the tax roll prepared by the property appraiser, but for which the board of county commissioners is not required by law to levy taxes, shall certify to the property appraiser and tax collector the millage rate set by such board, municipality, authority, special taxing district, or taxing unit. The certifications required by this subsection shall be made within 30 days after the value adjustment board adjourns.
History.—s. 2, ch. 4885, 1901; GS 532; s. 30, ch. 5596, 1907; RGS 731; CGL 937; s. 6, ch. 20722, 1941; s. 1, ch. 67-227; s. 1, ch. 67-512; ss. 1, 2, ch. 69-55; s. 1, ch. 69-300; s. 36, ch. 71-355; s. 18, ch. 76-133; s. 1, ch. 77-102; s. 1, ch. 77-248; s. 90, ch. 79-400; s. 71, ch. 82-226; s. 164, ch. 91-112; s. 1048, ch. 95-147.
Note.—Former s. 193.31.
200.065 Method of fixing millage.—
(1) Upon completion of the assessment of all property pursuant to s. 193.023, the property appraiser shall certify to each taxing authority the taxable value within the jurisdiction of the taxing authority. This certification shall include a copy of the statement required to be submitted under s. 195.073(3), as applicable to that taxing authority. The form on which the certification is made shall include instructions to each taxing authority describing the proper method of computing a millage rate which, exclusive of new construction, additions to structures, deletions, increases in the value of improvements that have undergone a substantial rehabilitation which increased the assessed value of such improvements by at least 100 percent, property added due to geographic boundary changes, total taxable value of tangible personal property within the jurisdiction in excess of 115 percent of the previous year’s total taxable value, and any dedicated increment value, will provide the same ad valorem tax revenue for each taxing authority as was levied during the prior year less the amount, if any, paid or applied as a consequence of an obligation measured by the dedicated increment value. That millage rate shall be known as the “rolled-back rate.” The property appraiser shall also include instructions, as prescribed by the Department of Revenue, to each county and municipality, each special district dependent to a county or municipality, each municipal service taxing unit, and each independent special district describing the proper method of computing the millage rates and taxes levied as specified in subsection (5). The Department of Revenue shall prescribe the instructions and forms that are necessary to administer this subsection and subsection (5). The information provided pursuant to this subsection shall also be sent to the tax collector by the property appraiser at the time it is sent to each taxing authority.
(2) No millage shall be levied until a resolution or ordinance has been approved by the governing board of the taxing authority which resolution or ordinance must be approved by the taxing authority according to the following procedure:
(a)1. Upon preparation of a tentative budget, but prior to adoption thereof, each taxing authority shall compute a proposed millage rate necessary to fund the tentative budget other than the portion of the budget to be funded from sources other than ad valorem taxes. In computing proposed or final millage rates, each taxing authority shall utilize not less than 95 percent of the taxable value certified pursuant to subsection (1).
2. The tentative budget of the county commission shall be prepared and submitted in accordance with s. 129.03.
3. The tentative budget of the school district shall be prepared and submitted in accordance with chapter 1011, provided that the date of submission shall not be later than 24 days after certification of value pursuant to subsection (1).
4. Taxing authorities other than the county and school district shall prepare and consider tentative and final budgets in accordance with this section and applicable provisions of law, including budget procedures applicable to the taxing authority, provided such procedures do not conflict with general law.
(b) Within 35 days of certification of value pursuant to subsection (1), each taxing authority shall advise the property appraiser of its proposed millage rate, of its rolled-back rate computed pursuant to subsection (1), and of the date, time, and place at which a public hearing will be held to consider the proposed millage rate and the tentative budget. The property appraiser shall utilize this information in preparing the notice of proposed property taxes pursuant to s. 200.069. The deadline for mailing the notice shall be the later of 55 days after certification of value pursuant to subsection (1) or 10 days after either the date the tax roll is approved or the interim roll procedures under s. 193.1145 are instituted. However, for counties for which a state of emergency was declared by executive order or proclamation of the Governor pursuant to chapter 252, if mailing is not possible during the state of emergency, the property appraiser may post the notice on the county’s website. If the deadline for mailing the notice of proposed property taxes is 10 days after the date the tax roll is approved or the interim roll procedures are instituted, all subsequent deadlines provided in this section shall be extended. In addition, the deadline for mailing the notice may be extended for 30 days in counties for which a state of emergency was declared by executive order or proclamation of the Governor pursuant to chapter 252, and property appraisers may use alternate methods of distribution only when mailing the notice is not possible. In such event, however, property appraisers must work with county tax collectors to ensure the timely assessment and collection of taxes. The number of days by which the deadlines shall be extended shall equal the number of days by which the deadline for mailing the notice of proposed taxes is extended beyond 55 days after certification. If any taxing authority fails to provide the information required in this paragraph to the property appraiser in a timely fashion, the taxing authority shall be prohibited from levying a millage rate greater than the rolled-back rate computed pursuant to subsection (1) for the upcoming fiscal year, which rate shall be computed by the property appraiser and used in preparing the notice of proposed property taxes. Each multicounty taxing authority that levies taxes in any county that has extended the deadline for mailing the notice due to a declared state of emergency and that has noticed hearings in other counties must advertise the hearing at which it intends to adopt a tentative budget and millage rate in a newspaper of general paid circulation within each county not less than 2 days or more than 5 days before the hearing.
(c) Within 80 days of the certification of value pursuant to subsection (1), but not earlier than 65 days after certification, the governing body of each taxing authority shall hold a public hearing on the tentative budget and proposed millage rate. Prior to the conclusion of the hearing, the governing body of the taxing authority shall amend the tentative budget as it sees fit, adopt the amended tentative budget, recompute its proposed millage rate, and publicly announce the percent, if any, by which the recomputed proposed millage rate exceeds the rolled-back rate computed pursuant to subsection (1). That percent shall be characterized as the percentage increase in property taxes tentatively adopted by the governing body.
(d) Within 15 days after the meeting adopting the tentative budget, the taxing authority shall advertise in a newspaper of general circulation in the county as provided in subsection (3), its intent to finally adopt a millage rate and budget. A public hearing to finalize the budget and adopt a millage rate shall be held not less than 2 days nor more than 5 days after the day that the advertisement is first published. In the event of a need to postpone or recess the final meeting due to a declared state of emergency, the taxing authority may postpone or recess the hearing for up to 7 days and shall post a prominent notice at the place of the original hearing showing the date, time, and place where the hearing will be reconvened. The posted notice shall measure not less than 8.5 by 11 inches. The taxing authority shall make every reasonable effort to provide reasonable notification of the continued hearing to the taxpayers. The information must also be posted on the taxing authority’s website. During the hearing, the governing body of the taxing authority shall amend the adopted tentative budget as it sees fit, adopt a final budget, and adopt a resolution or ordinance stating the millage rate to be levied. The resolution or ordinance shall state the percent, if any, by which the millage rate to be levied exceeds the rolled-back rate computed pursuant to subsection (1), which shall be characterized as the percentage increase in property taxes adopted by the governing body. The adoption of the budget and the millage-levy resolution or ordinance shall be by separate votes. For each taxing authority levying millage, the name of the taxing authority, the rolled-back rate, the percentage increase, and the millage rate to be levied shall be publicly announced before the adoption of the millage-levy resolution or ordinance. In no event may the millage rate adopted pursuant to this paragraph exceed the millage rate tentatively adopted pursuant to paragraph (c). If the rate tentatively adopted pursuant to paragraph (c) exceeds the proposed rate provided to the property appraiser pursuant to paragraph (b), or as subsequently adjusted pursuant to subsection (11), each taxpayer within the jurisdiction of the taxing authority shall be sent notice by first-class mail of his or her taxes under the tentatively adopted millage rate and his or her taxes under the previously proposed rate. The notice must be prepared by the property appraiser, at the expense of the taxing authority, and must generally conform to the requirements of s. 200.069. If such additional notice is necessary, its mailing must precede the hearing held pursuant to this paragraph by not less than 10 days and not more than 15 days.
(e)1. In the hearings required pursuant to paragraphs (c) and (d), the first substantive issue discussed shall be the percentage increase in millage over the rolled-back rate necessary to fund the budget, if any, and the specific purposes for which ad valorem tax revenues are being increased. During such discussion, the governing body shall hear comments regarding the proposed increase and explain the reasons for the proposed increase over the rolled-back rate. The general public shall be allowed to speak and to ask questions before adoption of any measures by the governing body. The governing body shall adopt its tentative or final millage rate before adopting its tentative or final budget.
2. These hearings shall be held after 5 p.m. if scheduled on a day other than Saturday. No hearing shall be held on a Sunday. The county commission shall not schedule its hearings on days scheduled for hearings by the school board. The hearing dates scheduled by the county commission and school board shall not be utilized by any other taxing authority within the county for its public hearings. However, in counties for which a state of emergency was declared by executive order or proclamation of the Governor pursuant to chapter 252 and the rescheduling of hearings on the same day is unavoidable, the county commission and school board must conduct their hearings at different times, and other taxing authorities must schedule their hearings so as not to conflict with the times of the county commission and school board hearings. A multicounty taxing authority shall make every reasonable effort to avoid scheduling hearings on days utilized by the counties or school districts within its jurisdiction. Tax levies and budgets for dependent special taxing districts shall be adopted at the hearings for the taxing authority to which such districts are dependent, following such discussion and adoption of levies and budgets for the superior taxing authority. A taxing authority may adopt the tax levies for all of its dependent special taxing districts, and may adopt the budgets for all of its dependent special taxing districts, by a single unanimous vote. However, if a member of the general public requests that the tax levy or budget of a dependent special taxing district be separately discussed and separately adopted, the taxing authority shall discuss and adopt that tax levy or budget separately. If, due to circumstances beyond the control of the taxing authority, including a state of emergency declared by executive order or proclamation of the Governor pursuant to chapter 252, the hearing provided for in paragraph (c) or paragraph (d) is recessed or postponed, the taxing authority shall publish a notice in a newspaper of general paid circulation in the county. The notice shall state the time and place for the continuation of the hearing and shall be published at least 2 days but not more than 5 days before the date the hearing will be continued. In the event of postponement or recess due to a declared state of emergency, all subsequent dates in this section shall be extended by the number of days of the postponement or recess. Notice of the postponement or recess must be in writing by the affected taxing authority to the tax collector, the property appraiser, and the Department of Revenue within 3 calendar days after the postponement or recess. In the event of such extension, the affected taxing authority must work with the county tax collector and property appraiser to ensure timely assessment and collection of taxes.
(f)1. Notwithstanding any provisions of paragraph (c) to the contrary, each school district shall advertise its intent to adopt a tentative budget on a publicly accessible website pursuant to s. 50.0311 or in a newspaper of general circulation pursuant to subsection (3) within 29 days after certification of value pursuant to subsection (1). For the purpose of this paragraph, the term “publicly accessible website” includes a district school board’s official website if the school board website satisfies the remaining requirements of s. 50.0311. Not less than 2 days or more than 5 days thereafter, the district shall hold a public hearing on the tentative budget pursuant to the applicable provisions of paragraph (c). In the event of postponement or recess due to a declared state of emergency, the school district may postpone or recess the hearing for up to 7 days and shall post a prominent notice at the place of the original hearing showing the date, time, and place where the hearing will be reconvened. The posted notice shall measure not less than 8.5 by 11 inches. The school district shall make every reasonable effort to provide reasonable notification of the continued hearing to the taxpayers. The information must also be posted on the school district’s website if the district school board uses a different method of advertisement.
2. Notwithstanding any provisions of paragraph (b) to the contrary, each school district shall advise the property appraiser of its recomputed proposed millage rate within 35 days of certification of value pursuant to subsection (1). The recomputed proposed millage rate of the school district shall be considered its proposed millage rate for the purposes of paragraph (b).
3. Notwithstanding any provisions of paragraph (d) to the contrary, each school district shall hold a public hearing to finalize the budget and adopt a millage rate within 80 days of certification of value pursuant to subsection (1), but not earlier than 65 days after certification. The hearing shall be held in accordance with the applicable provisions of paragraph (d), except that a newspaper advertisement need not precede the hearing.
(g) Notwithstanding other provisions of law to the contrary, a taxing authority may:
1. Expend moneys based on its tentative budget after adoption pursuant to paragraph (c) and until such time as its final budget is adopted pursuant to paragraph (d), only if the fiscal year of the taxing authority begins prior to adoption of the final budget or, in the case of a school district, if the fall term begins prior to adoption of the final budget; or
2. Readopt its prior year’s adopted final budget, as amended, and expend moneys based on that budget until such time as its tentative budget is adopted pursuant to paragraph (c), only if the fiscal year of the taxing authority begins prior to adoption of the tentative budget. The readopted budget shall be adopted by resolution without notice pursuant to this section at a duly constituted meeting of the governing body.
(3) The advertisement shall be published as provided in chapter 50. If the advertisement is published in the print edition of a newspaper, the advertisement must be no less than one-quarter page in size of a standard size or a tabloid size newspaper, and the headline in the advertisement shall be in a type no smaller than 18 point. The advertisement shall not be placed in that portion of the newspaper where legal notices and classified advertisements appear. The advertisement shall be published in a newspaper in the county or in a geographically limited insert of such newspaper. The geographic boundaries in which such insert is circulated shall include the geographic boundaries of the taxing authority. It is the legislative intent that, whenever possible, the advertisement appear in a newspaper that is published at least weekly unless the only newspaper in the county is published less than weekly, or that the advertisement appear in a geographically limited insert of such newspaper which insert is published throughout the taxing authority’s jurisdiction at least twice each week. It is further the legislative intent that the newspaper selected be one of general interest and readership in the community pursuant to chapter 50.
(a) For taxing authorities other than school districts which have tentatively adopted a millage rate in excess of 100 percent of the rolled-back rate computed pursuant to subsection (1), the advertisement shall be in the following form:
NOTICE OF PROPOSED TAX INCREASE
The (name of the taxing authority) has tentatively adopted a measure to increase its property tax levy.
Last year’s property tax levy:
A. Initially proposed tax levy..........$XX,XXX,XXX
B. Less tax reductions due to Value Adjustment Board and other assessment changes..........($XX,XXX,XXX)
C. Actual property tax levy..........$XX,XXX,XXX
This year’s proposed tax levy..........$XX,XXX,XXX
All concerned citizens are invited to attend a public hearing on the tax increase to be held on (date and time) at (meeting place) .
A FINAL DECISION on the proposed tax increase and the budget will be made at this hearing.
(b) In all instances in which the provisions of paragraph (a) are inapplicable for taxing authorities other than school districts, the advertisement shall be in the following form:
NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING
The (name of taxing authority) has tentatively adopted a budget for (fiscal year) . A public hearing to make a FINAL DECISION on the budget AND TAXES will be held on (date and time) at (meeting place) .
(c) For school districts which have proposed a millage rate in excess of 100 percent of the rolled-back rate computed pursuant to subsection (1) and which propose to levy nonvoted millage in excess of the minimum amount required pursuant to s. 1011.60(6), the advertisement shall be in the following form:
NOTICE OF PROPOSED TAX INCREASE
The (name of school district) will soon consider a measure to increase its property tax levy.
Last year’s property tax levy:
A. Initially proposed tax levy..........$XX,XXX,XXX
B. Less tax reductions due to Value Adjustment Board and other assessment changes..........($XX,XXX,XXX)
C. Actual property tax levy..........$XX,XXX,XXX
This year’s proposed tax levy..........$XX,XXX,XXX
A portion of the tax levy is required under state law in order for the school board to receive $ (amount A) in state education grants. The required portion has (increased or decreased) by (amount B) percent and represents approximately (amount C) of the total proposed taxes.
The remainder of the taxes is proposed solely at the discretion of the school board.
All concerned citizens are invited to a public hearing on the tax increase to be held on (date and time) at (meeting place) .
A DECISION on the proposed tax increase and the budget will be made at this hearing.
1. AMOUNT A shall be an estimate, provided by the Department of Education, of the amount to be received in the current fiscal year by the district from state appropriations for the Florida Education Finance Program.
2. AMOUNT B shall be the percent increase over the rolled-back rate necessary to levy only the required local effort in the current fiscal year, computed as though in the preceding fiscal year only the required local effort was levied.
3. AMOUNT C shall be the quotient of required local-effort millage divided by the total proposed nonvoted millage, rounded to the nearest tenth and stated in words; however, the stated amount shall not exceed nine-tenths.
(d) For school districts which have proposed a millage rate in excess of 100 percent of the rolled-back rate computed pursuant to subsection (1) and which propose to levy as nonvoted millage only the minimum amount required pursuant to s. 1011.60(6), the advertisement shall be the same as provided in paragraph (c), except that the second and third paragraphs shall be replaced with the following paragraph:
This increase is required under state law in order for the school board to receive $ (amount A) in state education grants.
(e) In all instances in which the provisions of paragraphs (c) and (d) are inapplicable for school districts, the advertisement shall be in the following form:
NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING
The (name of school district) will soon consider a budget for (fiscal year) . A public hearing to make a DECISION on the budget AND TAXES will be held on (date and time) at (meeting place) .
(f) In lieu of publishing the notice set out in this subsection, the taxing authority may mail a copy of the notice to each elector residing within the jurisdiction of the taxing authority.
(g) In the event that the mailing of the notice of proposed property taxes is delayed beyond September 3 in a county, any multicounty taxing authority which levies ad valorem taxes within that county shall advertise its intention to adopt a tentative budget and millage rate in a newspaper within that county which meets the requirements of chapter 50, as provided in this subsection, and shall hold the hearing required pursuant to paragraph (2)(c) not less than 2 days or more than 5 days thereafter, and not later than September 18. The advertisement shall be in the following form, unless the proposed millage rate is less than or equal to the rolled-back rate, computed pursuant to subsection (1), in which case the advertisement shall be as provided in paragraph (e):
NOTICE OF TAX INCREASE
The (name of the taxing authority) proposes to increase its property tax levy by (percentage of increase over rolled-back rate) percent.
All concerned citizens are invited to attend a public hearing on the proposed tax increase to be held on (date and time) at (meeting place) .
(h) In no event shall any taxing authority add to or delete from the language of the advertisements as specified herein unless expressly authorized by law, except that, if an increase in ad valorem tax rates will affect only a portion of the jurisdiction of a taxing authority, advertisements may include a map or geographical description of the area to be affected and the proposed use of the tax revenues under consideration. In addition, if published in the print edition of the newspaper, the map must be included in the online advertisement required by s. 50.0211. The advertisements required herein shall not be accompanied, preceded, or followed by other advertising or notices which conflict with or modify the substantive content prescribed herein.
(i) The advertisements required pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (e) need not be one-quarter page in size or have a headline in type no smaller than 18 point.
(j) The amounts to be published as percentages of increase over the rolled-back rate pursuant to this subsection shall be based on aggregate millage rates and shall exclude voted millage levies unless expressly provided otherwise in this subsection.
(k) Any taxing authority which will levy an ad valorem tax for an upcoming budget year but does not levy an ad valorem tax currently shall, in the advertisement specified in paragraph (a), paragraph (c), paragraph (d), or paragraph (g), replace the phrase “increase its property tax levy by (percentage of increase over rolled-back rate) percent” with the phrase “impose a new property tax levy of $ (amount) per $1,000 value.”
(l) Any advertisement required pursuant to this section shall be accompanied by an adjacent notice meeting the budget summary requirements of s. 129.03(3)(b). Except for those taxing authorities proposing to levy ad valorem taxes for the first time, the following statement shall appear in the budget summary in boldfaced type immediately following the heading, if the applicable percentage is greater than zero:
THE PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET EXPENDITURES OF (name of taxing authority) ARE (percent rounded to one decimal place) MORE THAN LAST YEAR’S TOTAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES.
For purposes of this paragraph, “proposed operating budget expenditures” or “operating expenditures” means all moneys of the local government, including dependent special districts, that:
1. Were or could be expended during the applicable fiscal year, or
2. Were or could be retained as a balance for future spending in the fiscal year.
Provided, however, those moneys held in or used in trust, agency, or internal service funds, and expenditures of bond proceeds for capital outlay or for advanced refunded debt principal, shall be excluded.
(4) The resolution or ordinance approved in the manner provided for in this section shall be forwarded to the property appraiser and the tax collector within 3 days after the adoption of such resolution or ordinance. No millage other than that approved by referendum may be levied until the resolution or ordinance to levy required in subsection (2) is approved by the governing board of the taxing authority and submitted to the property appraiser and the tax collector. The receipt of the resolution or ordinance by the property appraiser shall be considered official notice of the millage rate approved by the taxing authority, and that millage rate shall be the rate applied by the property appraiser in extending the rolls pursuant to s. 193.122, subject to the provisions of subsection (6). These submissions shall be made within 101 days of certification of value pursuant to subsection (1).
(5) In each fiscal year:
(a) The maximum millage rate that a county, municipality, special district dependent to a county or municipality, municipal service taxing unit, or independent special district may levy is a rolled-back rate based on the amount of taxes which would have been levied in the prior year if the maximum millage rate had been applied, adjusted for change in per capita Florida personal income, unless a higher rate was adopted, in which case the maximum is the adopted rate. The maximum millage rate applicable to a county authorized to levy a county public hospital surtax under s. 212.055 and which did so in fiscal year 2007 shall exclude the revenues required to be contributed to the county public general hospital in the current fiscal year for the purposes of making the maximum millage rate calculation, but shall be added back to the maximum millage rate allowed after the roll back has been applied, the total of which shall be considered the maximum millage rate for such a county for purposes of this subsection. The revenue required to be contributed to the county public general hospital for the upcoming fiscal year shall be calculated as 11.873 percent times the millage rate levied for countywide purposes in fiscal year 2007 times 95 percent of the preliminary tax roll for the upcoming fiscal year. A higher rate may be adopted only under the following conditions:
1. A rate of not more than 110 percent of the rolled-back rate based on the previous year’s maximum millage rate, adjusted for change in per capita Florida personal income, may be adopted if approved by a two-thirds vote of the membership of the governing body of the county, municipality, or independent district; or
2. A rate in excess of 110 percent may be adopted if approved by a unanimous vote of the membership of the governing body of the county, municipality, or independent district or by a three-fourths vote of the membership of the governing body if the governing body has nine or more members, or if the rate is approved by a referendum.
(b) The millage rate of a county or municipality, municipal service taxing unit of that county, and any special district dependent to that county or municipality may exceed the maximum millage rate calculated pursuant to this subsection if the total county ad valorem taxes levied or total municipal ad valorem taxes levied do not exceed the maximum total county ad valorem taxes levied or maximum total municipal ad valorem taxes levied respectively. Voted millage and taxes levied by a municipality or independent special district that has levied ad valorem taxes for less than 5 years are not subject to this limitation. The millage rate of a county authorized to levy a county public hospital surtax under s. 212.055 may exceed the maximum millage rate calculated pursuant to this subsection to the extent necessary to account for the revenues required to be contributed to the county public hospital. Total taxes levied may exceed the maximum calculated pursuant to subsection (6) as a result of an increase in taxable value above that certified in subsection (1) if such increase is less than the percentage amounts contained in subsection (6) or if the administrative adjustment cannot be made because the value adjustment board is still in session at the time the tax roll is extended; otherwise, millage rates subject to this subsection may be reduced so that total taxes levied do not exceed the maximum.
Any unit of government operating under a home rule charter adopted pursuant to ss. 10, 11, and 24, Art. VIII of the State Constitution of 1885, as preserved by s. 6(e), Art. VIII of the State Constitution, which is granted the authority in the State Constitution to exercise all the powers conferred now or hereafter by general law upon municipalities and which exercises such powers in the unincorporated area shall be recognized as a municipality under this subsection. For a downtown development authority established before the effective date of the State Constitution which has a millage that must be approved by a municipality, the governing body of that municipality shall be considered the governing body of the downtown development authority for purposes of this subsection.
(6) Prior to extension of the rolls pursuant to s. 193.122, the property appraiser shall notify each taxing authority of the aggregate change in the assessment roll, if any, from that certified pursuant to subsection (1), including, but not limited to, those changes which result from actions by the value adjustment board or from corrections of errors in the assessment roll. Municipalities, counties, school boards, and water management districts may adjust administratively their adopted millage rate without a public hearing if the taxable value within the jurisdiction of the taxing authority as certified pursuant to subsection (1) is at variance by more than 1 percent with the taxable value shown on the roll to be extended. Any other taxing authority may adjust administratively its adopted millage rate without a public hearing if the taxable value within the jurisdiction of the taxing authority as certified pursuant to subsection (1) is at variance by more than 3 percent with the taxable value shown on the roll to be extended. The adjustment shall be such that the taxes computed by applying the adopted rate against the certified taxable value are equal to the taxes computed by applying the adjusted adopted rate to the taxable value on the roll to be extended. However, no adjustment shall be made to levies required by law to be a specific millage amount. Not later than 3 days after receipt of notification pursuant to this subsection, each affected taxing authority shall certify to the property appraiser its adjusted adopted rate. Failure to so certify shall constitute waiver of the adjustment privilege.
(7) Nothing contained in this section shall serve to extend or authorize any millage in excess of the maximum millage permitted by law or prevent the reduction of millage.
(8) The property appraiser shall deliver to the presiding officer of each taxing authority within the county, on June 1, an estimate of the total assessed value of nonexempt property for the current year for budget planning purposes.
(9) Multicounty taxing authorities are subject to the provisions of this section. The term “taxable value” means the taxable value of all property subject to taxation by the authority. If a multicounty taxing authority has not received a certification pursuant to subsection (1) from a county by July 15, it shall compute its proposed millage rate and rolled-back rate based upon estimates of taxable value supplied by the Department of Revenue. All dates for public hearings and advertisements specified in this section shall, with respect to multicounty taxing authorities, be computed as though certification of value pursuant to subsection (1) were made July 1. The multicounty district shall add the following sentence to the advertisement set forth in paragraphs (3)(a) and (g): This tax increase is applicable to (name of county or counties) .
(10)(a) In addition to the notice required in subsection (3), a district school board shall publish a second notice of intent to levy additional taxes under s. 1011.71(2) or (3). The notice shall specify the projects or number of school buses anticipated to be funded by the additional taxes and shall be published in the size, within the time periods, adjacent to, and in substantial conformity with the advertisement required under subsection (3). The projects shall be listed in priority within each category as follows: construction and remodeling; maintenance, renovation, and repair; motor vehicle purchases; new and replacement equipment; payments for educational facilities and sites due under a lease-purchase agreement; payments for renting and leasing educational facilities and sites; payments of loans approved pursuant to ss. 1011.14 and 1011.15; payment of costs of compliance with environmental statutes and regulations; payment of premiums for property and casualty insurance necessary to insure the educational and ancillary plants of the school district; payment of costs of leasing relocatable educational facilities; and payments to private entities to offset the cost of school buses pursuant to s. 1011.71(2)(i). The additional notice shall be in the following form, except that if the district school board is proposing to levy the same millage under s. 1011.71(2) or (3) which it levied in the prior year, the words “continue to” shall be inserted before the word “impose” in the first sentence, and except that the second sentence of the second paragraph shall be deleted if the district is advertising pursuant to paragraph (3)(e):
NOTICE OF TAX FOR SCHOOL CAPITAL OUTLAY
The (name of school district) will soon consider a measure to impose a (number) mill property tax for the capital outlay projects listed herein.
This tax is in addition to the school board’s proposed tax of (number) mills for operating expenses and is proposed solely at the discretion of the school board. THE PROPOSED COMBINED SCHOOL BOARD TAX INCREASE FOR BOTH OPERATING EXPENSES AND CAPITAL OUTLAY IS SHOWN IN THE ADJACENT NOTICE.
The capital outlay tax will generate approximately $ (amount) , to be used for the following projects:
(list of capital outlay projects)
All concerned citizens are invited to a public hearing to be held on (date and time) at (meeting place) .
A DECISION on the proposed CAPITAL OUTLAY TAXES will be made at this hearing.
(b) In the event a school district needs to amend the list of capital outlay projects previously advertised and adopted, a notice of intent to amend the notice of tax for school capital outlay shall be published in conformity with the advertisement required in subsection (3). A public hearing to adopt the amended project list shall be held not less than 2 days nor more than 5 days after the day the advertisement is first published. The projects should be listed under each category of new, amended, or deleted projects in the same order as required in paragraph (a). The notice shall appear in the following form, except that any of the categories of new, amended, or deleted projects may be omitted if not appropriate for the changes proposed:
AMENDED NOTICE OF TAX FOR SCHOOL CAPITAL OUTLAY
The School Board of (name) County will soon consider a measure to amend the use of property tax for the capital outlay projects previously advertised for the (year) to (year) school year.
New projects to be funded:
(list of capital outlay projects)
Amended projects to be funded:
(list of capital outlay projects)
Projects to be deleted:
(list of capital outlay projects)
All concerned citizens are invited to a public hearing to be held on (date and time) at (meeting place) .
A DECISION on the proposed amendment to the projects funded from CAPITAL OUTLAY TAXES will be made at this meeting.
(11) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (2)(b) and s. 200.069(4)(f) to the contrary, the proposed millage rates provided to the property appraiser by the taxing authority, except for millage rates adopted by referendum, for rates authorized by s. 1011.71, and for rates required by law to be in a specified millage amount, shall be adjusted in the event that a review notice is issued pursuant to s. 193.1142(4) and the taxable value on the approved roll is at variance with the taxable value certified pursuant to subsection (1). The adjustment shall be made by the property appraiser, who shall notify the taxing authorities affected by the adjustment within 5 days of the date the roll is approved pursuant to s. 193.1142(4). The adjustment shall be such as to provide for no change in the dollar amount of taxes levied from that initially proposed by the taxing authority.
(12) The time periods specified in this section shall be determined by using the date of certification of value pursuant to subsection (1) or July 1, whichever date is later, as day 1. The time periods shall be considered directory and may be shortened, provided:
(a) No public hearing which is preceded by a mailed notice occurs earlier than 10 days following the mailing of such notice;
(b) Any public hearing preceded by a newspaper advertisement is held not less than 2 days or more than 5 days following publication of such advertisement; and
(c) The property appraiser coordinates such shortening of time periods and gives written notice to all affected taxing authorities; however, no taxing authority shall be denied its right to the full time periods allowed in this section.
(13)(a) Any taxing authority in violation of this section, other than subsection (5), shall be subject to forfeiture of state funds otherwise available to it for the 12 months following a determination of noncompliance by the Department of Revenue.
(b) Within 30 days of the deadline for certification of compliance required by s. 200.068, the department shall notify any taxing authority in violation of this section, other than subsection (5), that it is subject to paragraph (c). Except for revenues from voted levies or levies imposed pursuant to s. 1011.60(6), the revenues of any taxing authority in violation of this section, other than subsection (5), collected in excess of the rolled-back rate shall be held in escrow until the process required by paragraph (c) is completed and approved by the department. The department shall direct the tax collector to so hold such funds.
(c) Any taxing authority so noticed by the department shall repeat the hearing and notice process required by paragraph (2)(d), except that:
1. The advertisement shall appear within 15 days of notice from the department.
2. The advertisement, in addition to meeting the requirements of subsection (3), shall contain the following statement in boldfaced type immediately after the heading:
THE PREVIOUS NOTICE PLACED BY THE (name of taxing authority) HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW, NECESSITATING THIS SECOND NOTICE.
3. The millage newly adopted at this hearing shall not be forwarded to the tax collector or property appraiser and may not exceed the rate previously adopted.
4. If the newly adopted millage is less than the amount previously forwarded pursuant to subsection (4), any moneys collected in excess of the new levy shall be held in reserve until the subsequent fiscal year and shall then be utilized to reduce ad valorem taxes otherwise necessary.
(d) If any county or municipality, dependent special district of such county or municipality, or municipal service taxing unit of such county is in violation of subsection (5) because total county or municipal ad valorem taxes exceeded the maximum total county or municipal ad valorem taxes, respectively, that county or municipality shall forfeit the distribution of local government half-cent sales tax revenues during the 12 months following a determination of noncompliance by the Department of Revenue as described in s. 218.63(3) and this subsection. If the executive director of the Department of Revenue determines that any county or municipality, dependent special district of such county or municipality, or municipal service taxing unit of such county is in violation of subsection (5), the Department of Revenue and the county or municipality, dependent special district of such county or municipality, or municipal service taxing unit of such county shall follow the procedures set forth in this paragraph or paragraph (e). During the pendency of any procedure under paragraph (e) or any administrative or judicial action to challenge any action taken under this subsection, the tax collector shall hold in escrow any revenues collected by the noncomplying county or municipality, dependent special district of such county or municipality, or municipal service taxing unit of such county in excess of the amount allowed by subsection (5), as determined by the executive director. Such revenues shall be held in escrow until the process required by paragraph (e) is completed and approved by the department. The department shall direct the tax collector to so hold such funds. If the county or municipality, dependent special district of such county or municipality, or municipal service taxing unit of such county remedies the noncompliance, any moneys collected in excess of the new levy or in excess of the amount allowed by subsection (5) shall be held in reserve until the subsequent fiscal year and shall then be used to reduce ad valorem taxes otherwise necessary. If the county or municipality, dependent special district of such county or municipality, or municipal service taxing unit of such county does not remedy the noncompliance, the provisions of s. 218.63 shall apply.
(e) The following procedures shall be followed when the executive director notifies any county or municipality, dependent special district of such county or municipality, or municipal service taxing unit of such county that he or she has determined that such taxing authority is in violation of subsection (5):
1. Within 30 days after the deadline for certification of compliance required by s. 200.068, the executive director shall notify any such county or municipality, dependent special district of such county or municipality, or municipal service taxing unit of such county of his or her determination regarding subsection (5) and that such taxing authority is subject to subparagraph 2.
2. Any taxing authority so noticed by the executive director shall repeat the hearing and notice process required by paragraph (2)(d), except that:
a. The advertisement shall appear within 15 days after notice from the executive director.
b. The advertisement, in addition to meeting the requirements of subsection (3), must contain the following statement in boldfaced type immediately after the heading:
THE PREVIOUS NOTICE PLACED BY THE (name of taxing authority) HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW, NECESSITATING THIS SECOND NOTICE.
c. The millage newly adopted at such hearing shall not be forwarded to the tax collector or property appraiser and may not exceed the rate previously adopted or the amount allowed by subsection (5). Each taxing authority provided notice pursuant to this paragraph shall recertify compliance with this chapter as provided in this section within 15 days after the adoption of a millage at such hearing.
d. The determination of the executive director shall be superseded if the executive director determines that the county or municipality, dependent special district of such county or municipality, or municipal service taxing unit of such county has remedied the noncompliance. Such noncompliance shall be determined to be remedied if any such taxing authority provided notice by the executive director pursuant to this paragraph adopts a new millage that does not exceed the maximum millage allowed for such taxing authority under paragraph (5)(a), or if any such county or municipality, dependent special district of such county or municipality, or municipal service taxing unit of such county adopts a lower millage sufficient to reduce the total taxes levied such that total taxes levied do not exceed the maximum as provided in paragraph (5)(b).
e. If any such county or municipality, dependent special district of such county or municipality, or municipal service taxing unit of such county has not remedied the noncompliance or recertified compliance with this chapter as provided in this paragraph, and the executive director determines that the noncompliance has not been remedied or compliance has not been recertified, the county or municipality shall forfeit the distribution of local government half-cent sales tax revenues during the 12 months following a determination of noncompliance by the Department of Revenue as described in s. 218.63(2) and (3) and this subsection.
f. The determination of the executive director is not subject to chapter 120.
(14)(a) If the notice of proposed property taxes mailed to taxpayers under this section contains an error, the property appraiser, in lieu of mailing a corrected notice to all taxpayers, may correct the error by mailing a short form of the notice to those taxpayers affected by the error and its correction. The notice shall be prepared by the property appraiser at the expense of the taxing authority which caused the error or at the property appraiser’s expense if he or she caused the error. The form of the notice must be approved by the executive director of the Department of Revenue or the executive director’s designee. If the error involves only the date and time of the public hearings required by this section, the property appraiser, with the permission of the taxing authority affected by the error, may correct the error by advertising the corrected information in a newspaper of general circulation in the county as provided in subsection (3).
(b) Errors that may be corrected in this manner are:
1. Incorrect location, time, or date of a public hearing.
2. Incorrect assessed, exempt, or taxable value.
3. Incorrect amount of taxes as reflected in column one, column two, or column three of the notice; and
4. Any other error as approved by the executive director of the Department of Revenue or the executive director’s designee.
(15) The provisions of this section shall apply to all taxing authorities in this state which levy ad valorem taxes, and shall control over any special law which is inconsistent or in conflict with this section, except to the extent the special law expressly exempts a taxing authority from the provisions of this section. This subsection is a clarification of existing law, and in the absence of such express exemption, no past or future budget or levy of taxes shall be set aside upon the ground that the taxing authority failed to comply with any special law prescribing a schedule or procedure for such adoption which is inconsistent or in conflict with the provisions of this section.
200.066 Newly created tax units.—Ad valorem taxes of newly created municipalities or special districts shall be initially imposed no earlier than the January 1 subsequent to the creation or establishment of the municipality or district. The creation by a county of a municipal service taxing unit under s. 125.01 is not controlled by this section if the boundaries of the municipal service taxing unit conform to the boundaries of existing special districts, include all the unincorporated areas, or include all the incorporated areas of a municipality, and if the taxing unit is created before July 1 if millage is to be imposed in the ensuing county budget.
200.068 Certification of compliance with this chapter.—Not later than 30 days following adoption of an ordinance or resolution establishing a property tax levy, each taxing authority shall certify compliance with the provisions of this chapter to the Department of Revenue. In addition to a statement of compliance, such certification shall include a copy of the ordinance or resolution so adopted; a copy of the certification of value showing rolled-back millage and proposed millage rates, as provided to the property appraiser pursuant to s. 200.065(1) and (2)(b); maximum millage rates calculated pursuant to s. 200.065(5), together with values and calculations upon which the maximum millage rates are based; and a certified copy of the advertisement, as published pursuant to s. 200.065(3). In certifying compliance, the governing body of the county shall also include a certified copy of the notice required under s. 194.037. However, if the value adjustment board completes its hearings after the deadline for certification under this section, the county shall submit such copy to the department not later than 30 days following completion of such hearings.
200.069 Notice of proposed property taxes and non-ad valorem assessments.—Pursuant to s. 200.065(2)(b), the property appraiser, in the name of the taxing authorities and local governing boards levying non-ad valorem assessments within his or her jurisdiction and at the expense of the county, shall prepare and deliver by first-class mail to each taxpayer to be listed on the current year’s assessment roll a notice of proposed property taxes, which notice shall contain the elements and use the format provided in the following form. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 195.022, no county officer shall use a form other than that provided herein. The Department of Revenue may adjust the spacing and placement on the form of the elements listed in this section as it considers necessary based on changes in conditions necessitated by various taxing authorities. If the elements are in the order listed, the placement of the listed columns may be varied at the discretion and expense of the property appraiser, and the property appraiser may use printing technology and devices to complete the form, the spacing, and the placement of the information in the columns. In addition, the property appraiser may not include in the mailing of the notice of ad valorem taxes and non-ad valorem assessments additional information or items unless such information or items explain a component of the notice or provide information directly related to the assessment and taxation of the property. A county officer may use a form other than that provided by the department for purposes of this part, but only if his or her office pays the related expenses and he or she obtains prior written permission from the executive director of the department; however, a county officer may not use a form the substantive content of which is at variance with the form prescribed by the department. The county officer may continue to use such an approved form until the law that specifies the form is amended or repealed or until the officer receives written disapproval from the executive director.
(1) The first page of the notice shall read:
NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROPERTY TAXES
DO NOT PAY—THIS IS NOT A BILL
The taxing authorities which levy property taxes against your property will soon hold PUBLIC HEARINGS to adopt budgets and tax rates for the next year.
The purpose of these PUBLIC HEARINGS is to receive opinions from the general public and to answer questions on the proposed tax change and budget PRIOR TO TAKING FINAL ACTION.
Each taxing authority may AMEND OR ALTER its proposals at the hearing.
(2)(a) The notice shall include a brief legal description of the property, the name and mailing address of the owner of record, and the tax information applicable to the specific parcel in question. The information shall be in columnar form. There shall be seven column headings which shall read: “Taxing Authority,” “Your Property Taxes Last Year,” “Last Year’s Adjusted Tax Rate (Millage),” “Your Taxes This Year IF NO Budget Change Is Adopted,” “Tax Rate This Year IF PROPOSED Budget Is Adopted (Millage),” “Your Taxes This Year IF PROPOSED Budget Change Is Adopted,” and “A Public Hearing on the Proposed Taxes and Budget Will Be Held:.”
(b) As used in this section, the term “last year’s adjusted tax rate” means the rolled-back rate calculated pursuant to s. 200.065(1).
(3) There shall be under each column heading an entry for the county; the school district levy required pursuant to s. 1011.60(6); other operating school levies; the municipality or municipal service taxing unit or units in which the parcel lies, if any; the water management district levying pursuant to s. 373.503; the independent special districts in which the parcel lies, if any; and for all voted levies for debt service applicable to the parcel, if any.
(4) For each entry listed in subsection (3), there shall appear on the notice the following:
(a) In the first column, a brief, commonly used name for the taxing authority or its governing body. The entry in the first column for the levy required pursuant to s. 1011.60(6) shall be “By State Law.” The entry for other operating school district levies shall be “By Local Board.” Both school levy entries shall be indented and preceded by the notation “Public Schools:”. For each voted levy for debt service, the entry shall be “Voter Approved Debt Payments.”
(b) In the second column, the gross amount of ad valorem taxes levied against the parcel in the previous year. If the parcel did not exist in the previous year, the second column shall be blank.
(c) In the third column, last year’s adjusted tax rate or, in the case of voted levies for debt service, the tax rate previously authorized by referendum.
(d) In the fourth column, the gross amount of ad valorem taxes which will apply to the parcel in the current year if each taxing authority levies last year’s adjusted tax rate or, in the case of voted levies for debt service, the amount previously authorized by referendum.
(e) In the fifth column, the tax rate that each taxing authority must levy against the parcel to fund the proposed budget or, in the case of voted levies for debt service, the tax rate previously authorized by referendum.
(f) In the sixth column, the gross amount of ad valorem taxes that must be levied in the current year if the proposed budget is adopted.
(g) In the seventh column, the date, the time, and a brief description of the location of the public hearing required pursuant to s. 200.065(2)(c).
(5) Following the entries for each taxing authority, a final entry shall show: in the first column, the words “Total Property Taxes:” and in the second, fourth, and sixth columns, the sum of the entries for each of the individual taxing authorities. The second, fourth, and sixth columns shall, immediately below said entries, be labeled Column 1, Column 2, and Column 3, respectively. Below these labels shall appear, in boldfaced type, the statement: SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR EXPLANATION.
(6)(a) The second page of the notice shall state the parcel’s market value and for each taxing authority that levies an ad valorem tax against the parcel:
1. The assessed value, value of exemptions, and taxable value for the previous year and the current year.
2. Each assessment reduction and exemption applicable to the property, including the value of the assessment reduction or exemption and tax levies to which they apply.
(b) The reverse side of the second page shall contain definitions and explanations for the values included on the front side.
(7) The following statement shall appear after the values listed on the front of the second page:
If you feel that the market value of your property is inaccurate or does not reflect fair market value, or if you are entitled to an exemption or classification that is not reflected above, contact your county property appraiser at (phone number) or (location) .
If the property appraiser’s office is unable to resolve the matter as to market value, classification, or an exemption, you may file a petition for adjustment with the Value Adjustment Board. Petition forms are available from the county property appraiser and must be filed ON OR BEFORE (date) .
(8) The reverse side of the first page of the form shall read:
EXPLANATION
*COLUMN 1—“YOUR PROPERTY TAXES LAST YEAR”
This column shows the taxes that applied last year to your property. These amounts were based on budgets adopted last year and your property’s previous taxable value.
*COLUMN 2—“YOUR TAXES IF NO BUDGET CHANGE IS ADOPTED”
This column shows what your taxes will be this year IF EACH TAXING AUTHORITY DOES NOT CHANGE ITS PROPERTY TAX LEVY. These amounts are based on last year’s budgets and your current assessment.
*COLUMN 3—“YOUR TAXES IF PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGE IS ADOPTED”
This column shows what your taxes will be this year under the BUDGET ACTUALLY PROPOSED by each local taxing authority. The proposal is NOT final and may be amended at the public hearings shown on the front side of this notice. The difference between columns 2 and 3 is the tax change proposed by each local taxing authority and is NOT the result of higher assessments.
*Note: Amounts shown on this form do NOT reflect early payment discounts you may have received or may be eligible to receive. (Discounts are a maximum of 4 percent of the amounts shown on this form.)
(9) The bottom portion of the notice shall further read in bold, conspicuous print:
“Your final tax bill may contain non-ad valorem assessments which may not be reflected on this notice such as assessments for roads, fire, garbage, lighting, drainage, water, sewer, or other governmental services and facilities which may be levied by your county, city, or any special district.”
(10)(a) If requested by the local governing board levying non-ad valorem assessments and agreed to by the property appraiser, the notice specified in this section may contain a notice of proposed or adopted non-ad valorem assessments. If so agreed, the notice shall be titled:
NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROPERTY TAXES AND PROPOSED OR ADOPTED NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS DO NOT PAY—THIS IS NOT A BILL
There must be a clear partition between the notice of proposed property taxes and the notice of proposed or adopted non-ad valorem assessments. The partition must be a bold, horizontal line approximately 1/8-inch thick. By rule, the department shall provide a format for the form of the notice of proposed or adopted non-ad valorem assessments which meets the following minimum requirements:
1. There must be subheading for columns listing the levying local governing board, with corresponding assessment rates expressed in dollars and cents per unit of assessment, and the associated assessment amount.
2. The purpose of each assessment must also be listed in the column listing the levying local governing board if the purpose is not clearly indicated by the name of the board.
3. Each non-ad valorem assessment for each levying local governing board must be listed separately.
4. If a county has too many municipal service benefit units or assessments to be listed separately, it shall combine them by function.
5. A brief statement outlining the responsibility of the tax collector and each levying local governing board as to any non-ad valorem assessment must be provided on the form, accompanied by directions as to which office to contact for particular questions or problems.
(b) If the notice includes all adopted non-ad valorem assessments, the provisions contained in subsection (9) shall not be placed on the notice.
(1) Except as otherwise provided herein, no ad valorem tax millage shall be levied against real property and tangible personal property by counties in excess of 10 mills, except for voted levies.
(2) The board of county commissioners shall, in the event the sum of the proposed millage for the county and dependent districts therein is more than the maximum allowed hereunder, reduce the millage to be levied for county officers, departments, divisions, commissions, authorities, and dependent special districts so as not to exceed the maximum millage provided under this section or s. 200.091.
(3) Any county which, through a municipal service taxing unit, provides services or facilities of the kind or type commonly provided by municipalities, may levy, in addition to the millages otherwise provided in this section, against real property and tangible personal property within each such municipal service taxing unit an ad valorem tax millage not in excess of 10 mills to pay for such services or facilities provided with the funds obtained through such levy within such municipal service taxing unit.
200.081 Millage limitation; municipalities.—No municipality shall levy ad valorem taxes against real property and tangible personal property in excess of 10 mills, except for voted levies.
200.091 Referendum to increase millage.—The millage authorized to be levied in s. 200.071 for county purposes, including dependent districts therein, may be increased for periods not exceeding 2 years, provided such levy has been approved by majority vote of the qualified electors in the county or district voting in a general election, as defined in s. 97.021, called for such purpose. Such an election may be called by the governing body of any such county or district on its own motion and shall be called upon submission of a petition specifying the amount of millage sought to be levied and the purpose for which the proceeds will be expended and containing the signatures of at least 10 percent of the persons qualified to vote in such election, signed within 60 days prior to the date the petition is filed.
200.101 Referendum for millage in excess of limits.—The qualified electors of a municipality may, by majority vote at a general election, as defined in s. 97.021, increase millage above those limits imposed by s. 200.081 in a referendum called for such purpose by the governing body of the municipality, but the period of such increase may not exceed 2 years. Such referendum also may be initiated by submission of a petition to the governing body of the municipality containing the signatures of 10 percent of those persons eligible to vote in such referendum, which signatures were affixed to the petition within 60 days prior to its submission.
200.141 Millage following consolidation of city and county functions.—Those cities or counties which now or hereafter provide both municipal and county services as authorized under ss. 9-11 and 24, Art. VIII of the State Constitution of 1885, as preserved by s. (6)(e), Art. VIII of the State Constitution, shall have the right to levy for county, district and municipal purposes a millage up to 20 mills on the dollar of assessed valuation under this section. For each increase in the county millage above 10 mills which is attributable to an assumption of municipal services by a county having home rule, or for each increase in the municipal millage above 10 mills which is attributable to an assumption of county services by a city having home rule, there shall be a decrease in the millage levied by each and every municipality which has a service or services assumed by the county, or by the county which has a service or services assumed by the city. Such decrease shall be equal to the cost of that service or services assumed, so that an amount equal to that cost shall be eliminated from the budget of the county or city giving up the performance of such service or services.
200.151 Millage to replace lost revenue.—In the event any municipality should lose revenue through the loss of a proprietary activity or other source of revenue, the governing body of the municipality is authorized to increase the millage in an amount sufficient to restore such loss of revenue. In the event any municipality should relinquish any governmental function to a county or other governmental body, the governing body of such municipality shall reduce the millage in an amount which will equal the cost of such governmental function.
200.171 Mandamus to levy tax; limitations.—In any suit brought in any court of this state seeking to compel the levy of any tax for the payment of any bonds, coupons or other evidences of indebtedness, or to establish a sinking fund for their ultimate redemption at maturity, the peremptory writ, if issued by the court, shall in no case require a levy in excess of the ability of the taxing unit involved to pay the taxes commanded to be levied; and if such taxing unit be one having other functions of civil government to perform, the court shall also take into consideration in commanding such levy, the necessity of such unit to make a reasonably ample levy of taxes for the purpose of raising revenue with which to pay for the operation of the ordinary functions of civil government which such unit performs; provided, this section shall not apply to bonds, coupons or other evidences of indebtedness issued subsequent to the passage of this law. The ability of the taxing unit involved to pay the taxes commanded to be levied shall be determined by the court within its sound discretion by the application of equitable considerations in view of all the conditions of the taxing unit bearing upon such ability to pay; and such ability to pay shall be first found and determined before the issuance of any such peremptory writ.
(1) None of the provisions of this chapter or of any other law, whether general, special or local or of the charter of any municipality or county, shall limit or restrict the rate or the amount of the ad valorem taxes levied for the payment of the principal of and the interest on any debt service whether secured by revenue certificates or by bonds for which the full faith and credit of any county, municipality or taxing district may be pledged, and such taxes shall be in addition to all other taxes authorized or limited by law.
(2) Nothing in this section shall prevent any municipality, county or school board from levying at least 5 mills of ad valorem tax during any fiscal year.
(3) A county or municipality may levy voted millage at the maximum millage rate approved by referendum even if the levy would raise revenue in excess of that necessary for debt service as authorized by a vote of the electors pursuant to s. 12, Art. VII of the State Constitution. The county or municipality may use the surplus revenue for any lawful purpose solely related to the capital project for which the voted millage was approved, including operations and maintenance. For purposes of this chapter, the portion of the voted millage necessary to pay debt service must be treated as debt service millage and the excess portion must be treated as general millage. The portion treated as general millage must be included within the millage levied under the county or municipal 10-mill limitation.
