During the first of two public budget hearings, Punta Gorda City Council proposed no change from the previous year’s millage rate of 3.95, 9.9% higher than the rollback rate of 3.5942.

A rollback millage rate is the amount of property taxes the property owner owes if there were no changes to the taxing authority’s budget. The tentative budget adoption drew an outcry from some residents who attended the meeting Sept. 4.

“When the millage rate exceeds the rollback rate it’s considered a tax increase,” said resident Mike Polk, who runs a business in the area and is a critic of the present administration.

Polk’s wife, Jeannine Polk, is a candidate for City Council running against incumbent Donna Peterman for the District 1 seat.

“The rollback rate serves as the baseline ensuring local governments don’t automatically raise taxes due to rising property values,” Mike Polk said.

He compared Charlotte County’s budget to the city’s budget and said while the county tax roll increased by approximately 60% since 2020, city of Punta Gorda’s has increased approximately 45% since 2020.

“Despite this, the county has only increased the millage rate once, in 2022,” he said.

Mike Polk speculated that if the real estate market continues to slow and prices decrease over the next year, the city will have to raise the millage rate again.

Resident Teresa Russell told of how her taxes have been increasing and that she, along with others who love the city, “don’t want to be forced out because our taxes are outrageous. We saw an increase in our taxes of $3,000 last year.”

During the regular Council meeting, Angie Matthiessen, executive director of the United Way of Charlotte County, told Council how senior citizens were struggling to make ends meet and how many were working to supplement their retirement income.

Later in the day, Russell cited what Matthiessen said and urged council members to reconsider adopting their proposed budget she said will hurt many and force them out of their homes. She suggested the city apply reserve funds to pay for budget items rather than pass the cost along to taxpayers.

She said a 9.9% millage increase “unconscionable. It needs to change.”

Council member Debi Lux reviewed numerous pages of the budget to find where the city could eliminate costs, and council member Melissa Lockhart said, “The general fund is where we reduce the millage rate.”

She asked Lux what could be cut, and Lux said she would prepare a report for the next budget hearing.

Changes in the $19,154,810 budget for 2025 include adding 10 employees in human resources, procurement, public works, zoning and compliance, public safety, internet technology improvements and increased annual subscriptions that includes software.

The budget also provides continued funding for the city’s paving program, drainage improvements, emergency vehicles and fleet and equipment maintenance,infrastructure maintenance and other needs.

Had the city applied the millage rollback rate of 3.5942, the budget would total $17,429,470.

One taxpayer provided their recently mailed notice of proposed property taxes sent from Charlotte County Property Appraiser Paul Polk’s office.

Last year’s final tax rate and ad valorem taxes totaled $6,610. If the rollback millage rate of 3.5942 were applied for the current tax bill, the taxes would total $6,179.

However, should the city adopt the current budget and the 3.95 millage rate, that home’s tax bill would be $6,758, or $147.83 higher for the current property tax bill.

The city also proposed its canal maintenance fees. Burnt Store Isles residents in single-family homes would pay $985 and Punta Gorda Isles residents would pay $1,200.

The next public meeting will take place Sept. 18 at 5 p.m. at the Military Heritage Museum, 900 W. Marion Ave., in Punta Gorda.