OKEECHOBEE – Okeechobee County residents will see an increase in garbage pickup fees, fire protection assessments and EMS assessments for the 2023/2024 fiscal year.

At their July 27 meeting, Okeechobee County Commissioners voted unanimously to set the ad valorem property tax rate at 8.0 mills, the same tax rate as the 2022/2023 fiscal year. This rate will be advertised on the TRIM (Truth in Millage) notices.

One mill equals $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of taxable property value.

Although the tax rate did not change, property owners will see their tax bills increase if their assessed property values increased.

“We validated the budget at the 8.0 mills level,” said Commissioner Terry Burroughs. He said they should set it at 8 mills “unless we are willing to go back and start cutting the budget.”

At 8 mills, the ad valorem property taxes will bring in $25,128,746.

Commissioners also voted to increase the annual residential garbage rate from $300 to $360.96, an increase of $60.96 per year.

The residential fire protection assessment will be advertised at $127.04, an increase of $6.56 from the current rate.

EMS assessment will be $154.69 per residence, an increase of $41.55 per year.

The fire and EMS assessments were set at the rate needed to 100% fund these services without using money from the general fund.

Once the TRIM notices go out, the county commission may reduce the tax rate but cannot increase it.