The Seminole County commissioner, whose elected leaders have long been proud to keep taxes low, voted to raise property taxes for the first time in nearly 20 years.
At a higher rate, homeowners with a taxable value of $300,000 will see a $144 property tax jump.
But it’s not a completed transaction. The committee members will vote for the final tax rate on September 23 before the Seminoles’ new fiscal plan comes into effect on October 1st.
It’s not easy to acknowledge their decision, Seminole said, like almost every other local government across the state, they struggle with insurance costs, sustained inflation, state financial obligations and expanding mass transport services. The Seminole is also working on the growing number of sheriff deputies seeking better wages in other law enforcement agencies.
The commissioners – all Republicans – have admitted they have been waiting for years to either raise taxes or look for other sources of income to pay for the amount of services that more and more citizens are expecting.
The last time the Seminole raised the nationally-wide general property tax rate was in 2009 at $4.90 per $1,000 taxable property value. But then the commissioner reduced it to around $4.88 in 2010, and has remained ever since.
“I’m not a fan of having to pay higher taxes,” said Jay Zenbower, chairman. “But the reality is that this government has repeatedly risen all costs over the past four to five years and has not continued (cost).
In a 4-1 vote, the commissioner agreed to raise the general property tax rate to nearly $5.38. The increase will bring in more revenues of $27.2 million for next year’s fiscal year, according to county documents.
Commissioner Bob Dalari threw the only vote, saying the county should look for more efficiency within the budget.
“Rising taxes can affect working citizens and small businesses,” he said. “Everyone is looking for a tax cut, but who’s looking for a tax exemption?”
According to state law, committee members must set a temporary tax rate by August, when the property appraiser’s office mails annual “Milage Truth” or trim notices to the owner. The notice will provide information about the taxable valuation of the property and the tax rate for next year. From Tuesday, commissioners will not be able to lower the rate by October 1st, but they will not be able to increase it.
More than 12 residents at Tuesday’s committee meeting opposed the tax hike, saying the county should instead consider cutting costs.
“You can cut things, sorry to say that,” said Mike Johnson of Altamonte Springs. “Many of these things could be privatized.”
However, Commissioner Andia Hell opposed.
“We can’t get out of this,” she said. “That’s the reality.”
Lake Mary’s Julie Letchner said the tax increase would hurt residents financially.
“There must be a better way to enact financial responsibility than to place it on the backs of the citizens,” she said.
Still, without the property tax hike, county officials said the Seminoles will face a $34 million shortfall in the county general fund next year. The county’s general fund pays for most of the county’s day-to-day operations.
The overall budget for the Seminoles next year is proposed to increase by $1.2 billion, or 11.7% from this year’s financial plan. The overall budget includes payments from the sheriff’s office, county jail, fire department, water and sewerage, sewerage and court clerks, property appraisers and election supervisors.
Over the past five years, energy costs have increased by 49%. Replies including employee pay and retirement benefits – 54%. Health insurance claims are up 78%, according to county documents.
During a budget workshop in June, Sheriff Dennis Lemma said his agency has offered higher salaries and has lost other law enforcement representatives to sign the bonus. The new Seminole Deputy Bureau’s starting salary is $58,024 a year, one of the lowest in Central Florida. For example, Oviedo recently agreed to a police officer’s starting salary of $68,000.
To compensate for the salary deficit, Lemma proposed to just over $199 million in agency budget for next year’s fiscal year. That’s a $16.2 million jump from the current fiscal year, almost 9%.
County officials also cited the financial liability established by the state legislature and passed on to local governments without compensation.
These obligations include Medicaid, the Medical Examiner’s Office, the Department of Health, Veterans Services, and Florida retirement contributions and record-keeping costs.
The Seminole is also facing a $15 million invoice for the Lynx bus service next year, as well as a new microtransit service starting in October, and a $12 million cost for the Sunrail Commuter Train Service.
In addition to the general property tax rate, property owners within unincorporated seminoles also pay taxes for fires, ambulances, roads and stormwater. The overall tax rate for non-local residents is approximately $13.21 per $1,000 of the property’s taxable value.
Original issue: July 22, 2025 5:01pm EDT
