ORANGE PARK — The total taxable value of all properties in Orange Park was assessed in 2024 to be $855,587,043 — an increase of 6.48% since last year. 

An increase in property values, when all else is equal, typically means an increase in revenue for the town. 

Property taxes — also known as ad valorem taxes — are determined by the millage rate.  One "mill" is equal to $1 of tax liability for every $1,000 in assessed property value. The larger the millage rate, the greater the property taxes are for homeowners. 

Last Tuesday, Town Council voted 5-0 to set the proposed millage rate at 5.7000 mills for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. 

That decision marks the first of three steps the Town Council takes in setting the millage rate, which determine property taxes for the fiscal year. The proposed millage rate was set at 5.7000 mills last Tuesday. In this upcoming September, the Town Council will set the tentative millage rate and then the final millage rate, which sets the maximum mills for the year.

If 5.7000 mills were adopted as the final millage rate this September, for example, a homeowner with a property assessed at $250,000 would pay $1,425 before exceptions ($250,000 * 5.7000 / 1,000 = $1,425).

Town Manager Sarah Campbell said the 5.7000 mills are needed to balance the budget. 

"I have been balancing the budget using the 5.7000 mills number we had last year. I was hoping we could be able to lower it, but no, we actually had to trim quite a bit out of our budget this year," Cambell said. "I don't recommend you reduce it this year."

Pay raises won by the Police and Fire unions and other salary increases for the town's staff were cited as new increased expenditures for Orange Park. 

Last year, Town Council proposed a millage rate of 5.8781 mills, but then lowered it to 5.7000 due to a budget surplus.

In other news, Town Council will be conducting interviews to select the next town attorney on July 17 and 23 at 5 p.m.