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distinguish between assessment and millage, and he does not like to hear the City Council say they have increased taxes only 20 and the County Commission say they have increased less than 1%, when his taxes are up 33% and total spending is up by 26% Mr. Irwin objected to the fact that when people go to the Commission to complain about taxes, they are told to go to the Property Appraiser. He then read his letter to the Editor of the PRESS JOURNAL, as follows: '- . .:: etters o . e Editor -V . Property Taxes Increasing At Appalling .Rate: Editor, Press -Journal: my purchase In 1980. I find that the services, or for other problems real If the budget proposed by the: 1983 tax represents an increase of 99 or imaginary, it' clearly shows no county is accepted, I will find my percent over the 1979 tax, this in concern for the financial problems of ! 1983 property tax Increased by 16 four short years. The average com- the taxpayer on a fixed income. percent. If I adjust for my additional pound rate of increase comes to 18.7 This lack of concern for the finan- $20,000 exemption which resulted annually cial burdens of the taxpayer on the from a lawsuit by concerned Citi- . Projecting this rate of increase for part of our elected officials and the zeas, I find that, in fact,. my taxes 10 years starting In 1979, the taxes bureaucracy they manage, per - will be increased by 33 percent. on this property will have increased meates every level of government, Not bad for a year in which the 5.55 times by 1989. In 1989 the an- nual dollar increase of $919 will be but it seems to me that the taxing Inflation rate will be less than 5 per_. cent and in which property values as larger than the total tax in 1979. record of the past- four years indi- ceras :that new heights may have measured by sales have fallen. According to the appraiser's office, the annual increase in tax base runs been reached in Indian River Coun- This 33 percent Increase follows three previous years of substantial from 7 to 15 percent. If we take this into account as a 10 percent annual ty' It is time for the taxpayer to assert increases in taxes on my property in increase, and assume my experience his constitutional right to be served the city near AIA. It is instructive to to be typical, we find that total prop- . government rather than to' be look at these increases, calmly if erty taxes collected by the county treated as an inexhaustible financial possible, and • with mathematical have been growing at 28.7 percent resource. If you feel as I do, please precision. per year. attend the hearings on the proposed My taxes for 1983 reflect the maxi- Over the four years, revenues have 1983 taxes and budget on Sept. 7 o mum exemption, as did the 1979 increased by 2.74 times, nearly a fac. 13 and make your feelings known. taxes for the previous owner. I have for of three. Tax collector beware. adjusted my 1983 tax downward to While this may indicate a genuine Howard D. Irwin account for the full dollar value of concern. for the poor, for our recrea- 725 Painted Bunting Lana ' improvements I have added since tional facilities, for city and county Vero Beach. Mr. Irwin stated that bureauracy in Indian River County is out of control and felt the County needs a growth hormone block. Commissioner Scurlock disputed this statement as we actually have less county employees this year. Commissioner Lyons did not agree with Mr. Irwin's arguments re the amount of taxes which are the product of the millage rate as opposed to assessed valuation. He pointed out if someone feels the assessed valuation is incorrect, there is an appeal process. 11 SEP '7 1983 �, WK tkd Ml