In a unanimous vote during their Sept. 25 public hearing, Marion County commissioners adopted the countywide budget and a millage rate of 3.90 mills for the 2014-2015 fiscal year. A millage rate of 3.90 equates to $3.90 for each $1,000 of taxable property value, or $261 for a home assessed at the average taxable value of $67,000. The adopted millage rate is the same as in fiscal year 2013-2014.
All other non-countywide millage rates will remain at their current levels for fiscal year 2014-15, with the exception of the MSTU for law enforcement. The board unanimously approved a 0.26 mill increase in the millage rate for that MSTU. This enables the Marion County Sheriff’s Office aviation and fugitive units to remain funded, and includes enough funding for 3-percent staff salary raises with the associated health and retirement costs. The adopted millage rate of 3.47 for the MSTU for law enforcement equates to $3.47 for each $1,000 of taxable property value, or $232 for a home assessed at the average taxable value of $67,000. The MSTU is applied to properties in the unincorporated areas of the county that receive sheriff patrol services.
During the last seven years, Marion County has experienced a 36 percent decline in the countywide taxable property value, a decrease of approximately $8 billion. Budget reductions from Marion County’s departments and constitutional offices over those years have resulted in a property tax savings of $25 million for fiscal year 2014-15 compared to fiscal year 2008-09.
