Virginia Gardens set to keep same property tax rate in 2015-16

The Virginia Gardens Village Council is set to keep the same property tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year.

The proposal

The village council is proposing a tax rate of $5.15 per $1,000 of assessed property value; the same as this year’s rate.

Impact on taxpayers

On July 24, council members set the maximum tax rate at $5.15 for every $1,000 of assessed taxable value at a special meeting. The rate can be lowered during the budget process, which includes workshops and public hearings, but cannot easily be raised.

The median assessed value of the 566 homes in Virginia Gardens is $133,096, according to the county property appraiser’s 2015 preliminary tax roll report. Under the proposed rate, the typical homeowner who takes the standard $50,000 Homestead exemption would pay $427.94 in taxes to the city.

The tiny town, about one-third of a mile in length, sits north of Miami International Airport and is home to Boeing, located in the 6600 block of Northwest 66th Avenue, which last year purchased an additional $57 million in flight simulators.

Public hearings

Residents are invited to attend the first public hearing on the proposed 2014-15 budget and tentative tax rate 6 p.m. Sept. 10 at Village Hall, 6498 NW 38th Terr. The second and final public hearing will be held 6 p.m. Sept. 21.

Check your mailbox

Homeowners will receive a letter called a “TRIM notice” this month listing their proposed tax rate and hearing dates. The letter will also include proposed tax rates for the county, school board and other local agencies.

This story was originally published September 1, 2015 at 3:42 PM with the headline "Virginia Gardens set to keep same property tax rate in 2015-16."