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Leon County Children's Services Council moves closer to lowering tax rate

The Children’s Services Council of Leon County office located in Tallahassee, FL.
Adrian Andrews
/
WFSU
The Children’s Services Council of Leon County office located in Tallahassee, FL.

The Leon County Children’s Services Council is moving closer towards lowering its millage rate. On Thursday night, the group held one of two public hearings to decide whether to roll back its property tax rate by 7% for the 2024 fiscal year.

It’s a move the council believes is necessary to help property owners save money amidst rising home values. While most citizens applauded the idea, Leon County resident Gregory James thinks otherwise.

Community advocates appeared at a CSC Leon TRIM Public Hearing. The meeting was held at the Children’s Services Council of Leon County (CSC Leon) Thursday, Sept., 14, 2023
WFSU Public Media
/
WFSU
Community advocates appeared at a CSC Leon TRIM Public Hearing. The meeting was held at the Children’s Services Council of Leon County (CSC Leon) Thursday, Sept., 14, 2023

“Tonight definitely was a disappointment for the council because the work that they are doing is designed to empower programs that service our children," James said after the voting. "To say rolling back the millage is not going to impact the finances of the children’s service council, I find that hard to believe.”

According to the CSC , the new rate will generate nearly $8 million dollars in tax revenue, around the same amount as before.

Currently, Leon County residents are currently paying 37.5 cents per $1,000 in taxable property value. The council will will give a final vote whether to reduce that number to 34.77 cents on Sept. 28.

Adrian Andrews is a multimedia journalist with WFSU Public Media. He is a Gadsden County native and a first-generation college graduate from Florida A&M University. Adrian is also a military veteran, ending his career as a Florida Army National Guard Non-Comissioned Officer.

Adrian has experience in print writing, digital content creation, documentary, and film production. He has spent the last four years on the staff of several award-winning publications such as The Famuan, Gadsden County News Corp, and Cumulus Media before joining the WFSU news team.