Owners of the average-valued home in Manatee County will see a $50 reduction on their county property taxes next year under a new tax cut approved by County Commissioners as part of the County’s 2021-22 budget. Commissioners unanimously approved next year's budget Tuesday, along with a plan set forth by County Administrator Dr. Scott Hopes which reduces next year’s property tax rate by .20 mills without sacrificing any County projects or programs. 

Rather than cutting current service levels, the millage reduction is made possible largely by another year of significant increases in local property values. Under the current tax rate, rising values would have resulted in a $21 million increase in revenues over the current fiscal year. Instead, Commissioners unanimously approved the .2 mill reduction which returns $8.3 million to taxpayers. The reduction will mean a $50 annual decrease for the owner of a $300,000 home, the average local home value. 

Even with the millage reduction, the budget invests heavily in local infrastructure improvements. Nearly $350.3 million in transportation and road projects, plus significant investments in public safety and law enforcement highlight the $923 million budget. 

“I think Dr. Hopes and (Chief Financial Officer Jan) Brewer have done a fabulous job in this budget,” said Commission Chair Vanessa Baugh. “It is wonderful to be working on such a large infrastructure program to help the traffic congestion in our county because of the population growth and to give the citizens a reduction in millage for the first time since 2008.”