The James Island Public Service District's Proposed Budget was distributed to the Commissioners Wednesday night. Copies were distributed to the public and it is now on the JIPSD website. See the proposed budget here.
In my view, the biggest news is a proposed 1.8 mill tax increase for next year. The current millage is 51.1, so that is a tax increase of 3.5%.
Perhaps more troubling is that after a one year break, millage increases of 2.5 in 2017, 2.5 in 2018, 3 in 2019, and 3 in 2020 are proposed. So, over the next five years, the proposal is to raise the millage from 51.1 to 63.9, which is a 25% increase. Since the JIPSD taxes are slightly less than 50% of a homeowners tax bill, this will amount to an approximate 12% increase in a homeowners property tax bill.
These out-year tax hikes are projections and would come up before the Commissioners in each future budget proposal. Only the 3.5% tax hike will come before the Commissioners this year and, if passed, will appear on the tax bills going out in the fall.
The Commissioners have a budget workshop coming up soon, and perhaps this proposed budget will be changed. There will be a public hearing, which will allow the voters of the District an opportunity to provide their input about possible tax increases.
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