As Cedar Key property owners should know from 2011 Notices of Proposed Property Taxes recently sent out by Levy County, local taxing authorities throughout Florida are in the midst of a state-mandated budget process which will determine each local authority`s millage rate - and thus the amount owners will see on final property tax bills to be sent out later this fall. In Cedar Key over the last several weeks, Cedar Key`s five city commissioners have conducted some eight budget workshops, with dwindling public participation. Only one local newspaper attended the last workshop Monday night, and even Butch the CKPD cat avoided the workshop (perhaps because there`s no raise for Butch in the proposed budget, opined Police Chief Virgil Sandlin). Over the course of the budget workshops, the commissioners have worked to keep Cedar Key`s millage rate below 4.00. (The millage rate - the amount per $1,000 used to calculate taxes on property - is one factor used by county officials to calculate the ad valorem, or property tax rate.) The city`s first budget workshop, in July, looked at proposed expenses some $50,000 in excess of expected revenues to the city (assuming the city`s share of property taxes collected by the county is calculated at 3.757 mills). In subsequent budget workshops, the commissioners substantially reduced the net shortfall, continuing to assume a 3.757 millage rate. The public will have the opportunity Thursday evening, September 15, and again Monday evening, September 26, to participate in the final steps in the budgeting process and to observe the city commissioners` efforts to keep a lid on Cedar Key`s millage rate. Both budget hearings will begin at 6 p.m. at City Hall. | 