Oldsmar extends quarter-century streak of not raising taxes

City of Oldsmar officials extended their streak of not raising taxes to 26 years earlier this week.

City of Oldsmar officials extended their streak of not raising taxes to 26 consecutive years after approving the FY 16/17 budget and millage rate earlier this week.

According to officials, the City of Oldsmar has not raised taxes in more than a quarter century.

In the world of municipal budgets and millage rates, this qualifies as big news.

The city council approved the final budget and millage rate for fiscal year 2016-17 on Tuesday night, and with a unanimous vote in favor of a rate of 4.05 mills, Oldsmar set what could be an unofficial record for declining to raise taxes.

“We haven’t increased the millage rate for how many years?” Mayor Doug Bevis asked after a resident inquired as to why the city was raising taxes next year.

“Twenty-six years,” Council member Jerry Beverland replied.

“In fact, we have lowered the millage rate five times in the last twenty-six years,” he added. “And this is one more time we didn’t raise it.”

Records show the rate of 4.05 mills has been in place in Oldsmar for the last eight years running prior to this year’s vote, with four reductions in the past 25 years.

In addition to approving the millage, the council voted 4-0 in favor of a budget of $30,453,750, which includes more than $14 million in the general fund and nearly three million in capitol improvement funds.

Here's a look at the breakdown of the City of Oldsmar's budget for FY 16/17.

Here’s a look at the breakdown of the City of Oldsmar’s budget for FY 16/17.

Staff members in the city’s administrative services department have been so skilled at managing the budget of late, they recently received the Government Finance Officers Association Award for Distinguished Budget Presentation for the third straight year.

“We just went through our budget again, and of course the numbers were great,” Mayor Bevis said while recognizing the department’s employees during the August 16 council meeting.

“But just the presentation, and the way it’s all put together, just continues to get better every year, which is why we continue to win the award.”

Oldsmar Mayor Doug Bevis.

Oldsmar Mayor Doug Bevis.

After approving the budget and millage earlier this week, Bevis spoke to Oldsmar Connect about his city’s remarkable fiscal feat.

“Twenty-six years and we’ve had several millage reductions and no raises,” the mayor said. “I think it shows we’re a fiscally responsible city.”

“We didn’t have to let anyone go during the recession, and we continue to add parks and public facilities for our residents,” he added.

“Studies show we haven’t fully recovered from the recession yet, but I think Oldsmar is in a good place.”

The next fiscal year begins on October 1.

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