MIAMI Miami-Dade County property and business owners will begin receiving the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes (or TRIM Truth in Millage notices) from the Property Appraisal Department this week, which details proposed 2007 property taxes.
This notice includes the recent State mandated tax cuts approved by the Florida Legislature last June. The statutory changes mandate rollbacks to 2006 tax revenue levels by county and municipal governments, as well as additional cuts of up to 9 percent as determined by the Florida Department of Revenue. However, some taxing authorities such as the Miami-Dade School Board are exempt from these tax cuts.
“The August TRIM Notice property owners are receiving this week provides owners with information about the proposed taxes for each taxing authority in advance of the bills,” said Acting Property Appraiser Marcus Saiz de la Mora. “The actual bills are mailed in November so tax payers have sufficient time to review all of the information such as exemptions applied, hearing dates, and appeal deadlines.”
TAX SAVINGS
Preliminary figures indicate that 90% of homestead property owners in Miami-Dade will pay lower property taxes in 2007 than they did in 2006. The average savings for a home with a market value of $350,000, which benefits from a Homestead Exemption and the 3% Save Our Homes Cap, will be approximately $300. Other properties may see an increase in taxes. However, the level of these increases has been offset by the State mandated rollbacks.
NEW AND ENHANCED EXEMPTIONS
Some property owners have also benefited from recent changes and enhancements in exemptions. Miami-Dade County and 16 other cities have adopted the new maximum senior citizen exemption now at $50,000. Combat related disabled veterans have also received additional discounts available on their 2007 taxes. Qualified applicants will see these new and enhanced benefits on the 2007 TRIM Notice.
HURRICANE REPAIRS
As a result of Hurricanes Wilma and Katrina in 2005, many property owners saw temporary reductions in their assessed values for 2006 and paid lower taxes. Most of these properties have since been repaired and the pre-hurricane values have been restored on the 2007 TRIM Notice. These property owners have been notified with special inserts included in the TRIM Notices.
All property owners are urged to carefully review their TRIM Notice and related material to make sure they understand how the recent changes will affect them. The deadline to file 2007 appeals is September 20, 2007. Property owners with any questions are encouraged to call 3-1-1 or get detailed information, including frequently asked questions, online at www.miamidade.gov/pa. Taxpayers may also visit the Property Appraisal Department at either the Downtown Miami (111 NW 1st Street) or South Dade Government Center (10710 SW 211 Street) offices.
It is the policy of Miami Dade County to comply with all of the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The facilities are accessible. For sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices or materials in accessible format, please call (305) 375-4789 at least five days in advance.
