City council approves tentative millage rate, budget for 2019

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview city council unanimously voted to approve the tentative millage rate and budget for the fiscal year, which is from Oct. 1, 2018 to Sep. 30, 2019.

The millage rate is expected to continue at the current rate of 6.9 mills, equivalent to $6.90 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. According to the resolution approved by the council, this rate is more than the rolled-back rate by over 5 percent.

Millage rates are used to calculate local property taxes, and Crestview's rate will allow the city to collect around $7 million in property taxes.

Crestview currently has the highest millage rate in Okaloosa County.

The city council also unanimously approved the tentative budget but it can make changes before the next regular council meeting, which is less than a week away.

However, according to the resolution, the "the city council during fiscal year 2019 may, by resolution, make any amendments to the budget adopted by this resolution, as it may deem necessary and proper."

Although the goal of the meeting on Thursday was to hold a public hearing, no one from the public came before the council.

The final hearing for the millage rate and budget is expected to be held on Sep. 24 at City Hall.

For information about upcoming city council meetings, visit www.cityofcrestview.org/AgendaCenter.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: City council approves tentative millage rate, budget for 2019