Century Votes To Move Forward Toward 290% Tax Increase, Higher Budget

September 20, 2023

The Century Town Council voted Tuesday to move forward toward a nearly 300% property tax increase and an $8 million budget proposed by interim Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr.

Because the tax increase is so high, the state required approval by a unanimous vote of all four council members. The council was unable to take a vote at their last budget meeting on September 5 due to an absent council member.

On a 4-0 vote Tuesday, the council tentatively approved a property tax increase with a millage rate of .9204, which is 290.66% greater than the rolled-back rate of .2356 mills. The rolled back rate is a computed millage rate that would generate the same amount of ad valorem tax dollars as the prior fiscal year, based on the proposed year’s tax roll, excluding new construction. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the State of Florida as a tax increase and the law says it must be advertised as such. The .9204 millage rate has been constant for several years.

Property values in Century have increased from approximately $49.5 million to $54.5 million over the last year, according to the Escambia County Property Appraiser’s Office. Last year, property taxes generated $45,518 for Century; this year is expected to be $50,307.

The $8 million tentative budget is up more than $2 million (39%) over last year’s $5,8 million, mostly due to grant funds.

A second vote for a final millage rate and budget approval will follow at another meeting on September 26.

NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

14 Responses to “Century Votes To Move Forward Toward 290% Tax Increase, Higher Budget”

  1. Jefferson Davis “Boss” Hogg on September 25th, 2023 9:09 pm

    And residence of Century wonder why there’s no development, no commerce and the only place people stop in this no good town is Whataburger. Panhandle Restaurant got out in time. Reckon The Sandwich Shop will be next. Taxes without anything to show for them! Vote these sonsabitches out!!

  2. mike on September 21st, 2023 4:45 pm

    Hmm. So that’s one of the ways ghost towns get started. Of course if they can tax people off their property they get to resell it. It’s like having the mob running things if the mob had no class, style, or constraint. :D

  3. tg on September 21st, 2023 8:50 am

    Got to have some money for big Christmas decorations and pay light bill on them.

  4. Looking for Info on September 21st, 2023 6:58 am

    Does anyone know the contact info for the office that’s over the century town hall.i want to start a investigation into century water department.they have double charge me for 6 months and its getting old.i know that I’m not the only one this is happening to.

  5. Wow on September 21st, 2023 1:06 am

    Hey Thomas, why hate in ICP? They are platinum, selling artists and millionaires, who know how to manage their money. Century could learn something from them.
    And no, I am not a fan. lol

  6. BIG JOHN on September 20th, 2023 10:11 pm

    AND THE STORY KEEP ON GOING, TURN IN NEXT WEEK ,SA ME TIME , SAME CHANNEL! TO SEE WHAT NEXT, AS THE TOWN TURN’S HA HA

  7. Caveman32565 on September 20th, 2023 8:23 pm

    The state joke of Florida is Century

  8. Kenneth on September 20th, 2023 4:28 pm

    Who voted for that ?

  9. Wow on September 20th, 2023 4:00 pm

    So sad! It’s always something.. it take just about every thing we got just to make it what next??

  10. JJ on September 20th, 2023 2:31 pm

    LOL
    city hall is the best looking building in Century.
    Best of luck

  11. SW on September 20th, 2023 2:21 pm

    Gee, what will they do with all that money?

    If the citizens don’t vote, or petition the state, to disband the town, you deserve the government you have.

  12. SMW on September 20th, 2023 8:31 am

    Bunch of flippin idiots!!!

  13. Thomas Paine on September 20th, 2023 7:31 am

    Similarly situated city governments in Detroit, Camden, NJ Gary, Indiana and Montgomery, AL embarked on likeminded tax adventures which attempted to penalize certain groups of residents in their towns. Now all of these cities are trademarks of urban decay. Century has had one foot into political oblivion and another on a banana peel for some time. It is likely Century will cease to exist as a municipality if these policies continue to be pursued. The answer is in the constituency but if they continue to elect the Insane Clown Posse instead of those committed to good governance Century will cement itself in the group of cities mentioned about and will be an example of how NOT to run a town. For more than two centuries a republic has existed on these shores. A republic requires responsibility in citizenship. Today some politicians, on every level make a mockery of democracy.

  14. RW on September 20th, 2023 6:51 am

    CRIMINALS VOTE THEM OUT