St. Lucie gives preliminary approval to keep property tax rates the same

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - County commissioners gave preliminary approval at a Thursday night public hearing to keep the countywide property tax rates the same and to accept the county's proposed budget, which includes raises.

They are expected to give final approval at the Sept. 20 public hearing. If they still hold the line on the nearly $7.19 per $1,000 rate, taxes would be $718.81 on a $100,000 property excluding any exemptions. Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie have an additional property tax rate.

A more than $25 million budget deficit would be balanced by dipping into the county's uncommitted reserves again.

The proposed budget also includes cost-of-living raises for county employees, minus the commissioners and constitutional officers because their salaries are set by the state based on population.
No one from the public spoke during the one-hour meeting.