Volusia County Protest Rolls Back Property Taxes

A protest by taxpayers in Volusia County resulted in a full tax rollback finalized October 5, 2006 by the County Council. The originally proposed millage rate of 5.30 ($5.30 per $1,000 taxable value), was rolled back to 4.27 ($4.27 per $1,000). That is a rollback to the amount of taxes collected in the previous year. The Volusia County budget would have increased 24% had the increase been allowed. The rejected increase is slightly less than the 26% increase approved, on a four to one vote, by the Levy County Commissioners at their September 25 meeting.

An editorial in the Daytona Beach News-Journal criticized the rollback, citing Daytona Beach former Commissioners for holding down taxes and resulting financial problems. A growing reaction to the Levy County property tax rate has generated a tax protest that will be held in Cedar Key October 12 next to the Cedar Key Volunteer Fire Department facility.