SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Seminole County’s Commission approved the budget for the upcoming year on Tuesday. It includes a property tax hike for the first time in nearly two decades.
The final budget hearing was held on Tuesday evening, where the commission voted 4-1 to raise the property tax rate, or millage rate, for the countywide general fund to 5.3571. It’s a 0.5 mill increase from the previous fiscal year of 4.8751.
The average homeowner will pay about $144 more each year, according to an example given by county staff.
The proposed 0.5 mill increase would result in the following approximate annual changes based on taxable property value:
- $100,000 taxable value: $48 annually ($4/month)
- $200,000 taxable value: $96 annually ($8/month)
- $300,000 taxable value: $144 annually ($12/month)
- $400,000 taxable value: $192 annually ($16/month)
[VIDEO: Property tax hike passes first vote in Seminole County]
News 6 has been following the county’s budget process since this summer. Staff have said the increase is necessary due to transit costs, state mandates without funding, inflation, and increasing costs in public safety personnel. The increase to the property tax rate could generate an additional $27.2 million dollars for the FY26 proposed budget.
[RELATED VIDEO: Seminole sheriff requests more money from the county for upcoming fiscal year]
At the first budget public hearing on Sept. 10, dozens of people showed up to express their concerns about raising the rate and how it could impact their bottom line. While some advocated for the commission to make more cuts to the budget, others spoke out in favor of the tax hike because of the services it will provide.
“While nobody likes to pay taxes, everybody likes the wonderful services we receive from Seminole County that make this a great place to live, work, and play,” said one woman. “Our parks and libraries are busy. Our roads are well-maintained. Our sheriff’s department and our fire department respond when needed in a timely manner. And none of this happens without adequate funding.”
“I’m not in favor of the millage rate raise,” another speaker said. “I’m hoping it will go back to what it was.”
Chairman Jay Zembower has told News 6 before that the county has been relying on money from reserves to balance the budget in previous years, but it won’t last long term.
“Our staff has been telling us for two or three years that this day was coming. We knew it was coming,” Zembower told the crowd.
Seminole County’s Commission has a history of being fiscally conservative. The last time Seminole raised its general millage rate was in 2009. It was lowered the next year, where it has remained at 4.8751 for nearly two decades.
“I’m committed to keeping the taxes in Seminole County as low as they can possibly be and delivering the best services we can possibly deliver,” said Commissioner Amy Lockhart. “But this isn’t a philosophical decision, this is a practical decision.”
The county has also shared the millage rates for surrounding counties for comparisons. Seminole’s is lower than Volusia, Orange, and Osceola counties when looking at the general fund millage equivalent.
The meeting can be watched on the county’s website here and on their YouTube here.
To read documents related to the public hearing, see below: