Truth In Millage (TRIM) The TRIM Notice tells you the taxable value of your property and provides information on proposed millage rates and taxes as estimated by each Hendry County taxing authority which includes the Board of County Commissioners, School Board, City, etc. The TRIM Notice also tells you when and where these authorities will hold public meetings to discuss tentative budgets and set your final tax millage rates. The Property Appraiser sends a Truth in Millage (TRIM) Notice to all property owners in August of each year, as required by law. You will recognize it by the DO NOT PAY THIS IS NOT A BILL statement on the envelope and the document.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 TAXING AUTHORITY Taxing authorities that set the millage rates based on budgetary needs. (millage rates = tax rates) EXEMPTIONS Your 2008 Exemption Breakdown as applied to each taxing authority. LAST YEAR TAXABLE VALUE 2007 Your 2007 taxable value minus your exemptions granted for the 2007 tax roll. THIS YEAR TAXABLE VALUE 2008 Your 2008 taxable value minus your exemptions granted for the 2008 tax roll. YOUR PROPERTY TAXES LAST YEAR Your taxes last year listed by each individual taxing authority. YOUR TAXES THIS YEAR IF PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGE IS MADE The taxes you will pay based on the millage rate set by each taxing authority if proposed budget change is adopted. A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED TAXES AND BUDGET WILL BE HELD Public hearing schedule by taxing authority, outcome of these meetings will determine the final millage rate. YOUR TAXES THIS YEAR IF NO BUDGET CHANGE IS MADE Your taxes based on last years millage rates and this year values, referred to as ROLL BACK MARKET VALUE Just value based on market analysis ASSESSED VALUE Capped or SOH value before exemptions EXEMPTIONS Qualified exemptions applied to value except SENIORS See COLUMN 2 TAXABLE VALUE Assessed value less any exemptions CONTACT YOUR PROPERTY APPRAISER Do not hesitate to call your appraiser at 863-675-5270 or come by our office: M-F. 8:30 AM TO 5:00 PM, we are located at 25 E Hickpochee Ave LaBelle, Florida VAB DEADLINE Deadline for filing a VAB petition, September 18, 2008 PROPOSED AND/OR ADOPTED NON AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS Services provided for you based on property use and/or size not based on value.
NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROPERTY TAXES AND PROPOSED OR ADOPTED NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS EXPLANATION: (s.200.069, FLORIDA STATUTES) 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 PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGE IS MADE 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. COLUMN 3 YOUR TAXES IF NO BUDGET CHANGE IS MADE This column shows what your taxes will be this year IF EACH TAXING AUTHORITY DOES NOT INCREASE ITS PROPERTY TAX LEVY. These amounts are based on last year s budgets and your current assessment. 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. ASSESSED VALUE MEANS: For Homestead property: value as limited by State Constitution; For agricultural and similarly assessed property: Classified use value; For all other property: Market Value. 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.) Note: Non-ad valorem assessments are placed on this notice at the request of the respective local governing boards. Your tax collector will be including them on the November tax notice. For details o particular non-ad valorem assessments, contact the levying local governing board. This graph shows you how the Save Our Homes annual three percent cap on property tax increases affect the market value and assessed value of your home, along with a couple often asked questions and their answers. This also shows the recapture rule (code 12D-8.0062) as it may affect you this year.
EXAMPLE OF "SAVE OUR HOMES" GRANTED IN 2000 SOH ASSESSED VALUE MARKET VALUE V A L U E S $250,000 $200,000 $150,000 $100,000 $50,000 SAVE OUR HOMES BENEFIT (TAX DOLLARS SAVED) 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Y E A R Question & Answer 1. My market value has decreased, why did my assessed value increase? Even if the Property Appraiser lowered your market value, as long as your market value exceeds your assessed value, your SOH assessed value will increase by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) but not more than 3%, whichever is less. This is the FL Adm Rule 12D-8.0062 (5) which is often referred to as the recapture rule. In 1995 Governor Chiles and his cabinet approved a Department of Revenue (DOR) ruling directing property appraisers to raise the Assessed Value (SOH Capped Value) of a qualifying homestead property by the maximum of 3% OR the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (C.P.I.), whichever is less, on all properties assessed at less than full market value whether or not that property s value increased during the calendar year. For an example this Recapture Rule means; Property A s market value increases by 10% this year. As a homestead property, the property appraiser can only increase the value by 3% or Consumer Price Index (C.P.I.), whichever is less under SOH. The next year, Property A s market value did not change. Since its assessed value under SOH remains under market value, the property appraiser must increase the assessed value by 3% or CPI, whichever is less, to bring its value closer to full market value. You can also visit the Florida Department of Revenue website at www.myflorida.com/dor click on Research Law, Property Tax Law Library, with Florida Administrative Code 12D-8.0062 for more information on this ruling. 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 that is not reflected above, contact your county Property Appraiser at 863-675-5270-25 E. Hickpochee Ave., LaBelle, FL 33935 or P O Box 1840 LaBelle, FL 33975.
If the Property Appraiser's office is unable to resolve the matter as to market value or an exemption, you may file a petition for adjustment with the Value Adjustment Board on or before September 18th, 2008. Petition forms are available from the Hendry County Property Appraiser s office or click here to download form (Petition forms link).
For more information from an individual taxing authority you may contact them at the following: HENDRY COUNTY (863) 675-5220 SCHOOL BOARD (863) 674-4100/983-1500 CITY OF LABELLE (863)675-2872 CITY OF CLEWISTON (863) 983-1484 PORT LABELLE (863) 675-0346 WATER MANAGEMENT (561) 686-8800 STATE: IMPORTANT EMAILS Governor Charlie Crist Email address: charlie.crist@myfl.com Department of Revenue: Property Tax James McAdams, Director Email address: dorpto@dor.state.fl.us STATE CONTACTS: Governor Charlie Crist: www.flgov.com/ Department of Revenue: Property Tax James McAdams, Director www.state.fl.us/dor/ My Florida: www.myflorida.com/ DOR Fl Property Appraisers: www.state.fl.us/dor/property/appraisers.html DOR FL Tax Collectors: www.state.fl.us/dor/property/tax collectors.html Florida Property Tax Reform: www.propertytaxreform.state.fl.us