OKEECHOBEE — Okeechobee County Commissioners set the tentative millage rate for county property taxes for the new fiscal year at 7.8 mills at their July 24 meeting. This is a decrease from the current rate of 7.9 mills.
One mill equals $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of taxable property value. The 7.8 mills rate will be advertised in the TRIM (Truth in Millage) notices which will be mailed to county property owners. After the TRIM notices are sent out, county commissioners can lower the tax rate, but they cannot increase it.
Although the proposed tax rate is slightly lower than the current millage, some property owners may see their bill increase if the assessed value of their property increased.
The county commission has the option to lower the millage rate at the first public hearing on Sept. 11.
At the July 24 meeting, commissioners also approved the rate for Fire Protection at $143.34 per residence, a $8.15 increase over the previous year. The EMS free was set at 179.11 per residence, an increase of $12.21.
Public hearings on the Fire Protection assessment and the EMS assessment will be held on Aug. 28, at 9 a.m.
Solid waste collection fees will also increase. Household garbage and yard waste fees, which are included on the annual county tax bill, will be $392.52 per residence for the year, an increase of $15.48. This increase is in accordance with the 5-year contract between Okeechobee County and Waste Management (WM).
The new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, 2025.
