2025-2026 Proposed Budget FAQ
Budget FAQ | Proposed Millage Rate: 2.503
What is a millage rate?
A millage rate is the amount you pay in taxes for every $1,000 of your property’s taxable value (after exemptions such as Homestead).
Does this cover my entire property tax bill?
No. Pinecrest’s millage is only one part of your total property tax bill. Other taxing authorities (Miami-Dade County, School Board, etc.) set their own millage rates separately.
What’s changing?
The Village is considering raising the rate from 2.35 to 2.503 mills. That’s an increase of about 15 cents per $1,000 of taxable value.
When will the final rate be set?
The final rate will be set during public budget hearings on September 9 and 16 at 6 pm at Village Hall.
How will this affect me?
- If your taxable value is $100,000, your Pinecrest portion of property taxes would rise from $235 to about $250 — an increase of $15.03 per year.
- If your taxable value is $300,000, the increase would be about $45.90 per year.
- If your taxable value is $500,000, the increase would be about $76.50 per year.
- If your taxable value is $1,000,000 the increase would be about $153 per year.
What's Driving Costs?
As a predominantly residential community with limited commercial businesses and no industrial properties or tourism revenue, Pinecrest relies heavily on property taxes to fund nearly all Village services. This narrow funding base makes us vulnerable when costs rise or the state reduces our revenue options.
This has been a particularly challenging budget year, shaped by inflation, rising costs for essential services, and uncertainty at the state and federal levels. These are real pressures that every municipality faces, and we're not immune to them.
The primary budget pressures we're facing include:
- Police equipment upgrades and competitive compensation to retain officers
- Inflation affecting insurance, materials, and operational costs
- State legislation reducing our revenue options
- Essential infrastructure maintenance
- Maintaining our $5 million emergency reserve for disaster response and federal funding delays
How does this tax increase affect disaster reserves?
Pinecrest maintains a $5 million emergency reserve specifically to support operations during disasters or when federal reimbursements are delayed.
During emergencies, these funds allow us to:
- Pay overtime for police, fire, and public works crews working around the clock
- Cover fuel costs for generators and emergency vehicles
- Remove debris and clear roads immediately
- Maintain essential services while waiting for federal aid
Without adequate reserves, we'd either have to cut services when residents need them most or take on expensive emergency loans. The $5 million emergency reserve is essential for keeping services running when outside help is delayed.
Why do you need to get the revenue from property taxes?
Pinecrest is mostly single-family homes with limited commercial businesses and no industrial properties or tourism revenue. That means property taxes fund nearly everything, from police and roads to parks and drainage systems. This narrow funding base makes the Village vulnerable when costs rise or the state cuts our revenue options - and both are happening right now. Inflation is hitting every part of the Village’s budget labor costs, construction materials, insurance, and utilities. Everything costs more than it did even two years ago. Our police department needs competitive salaries to retain good officers, plus nearly $1 million in equipment upgrades to keep you safe. The state now requires expensive cybersecurity measures that we must fund. Meanwhile, voter-approved changes starting in 2025 will reduce our property tax revenue even as costs keep climbing. The state legislature is considering even more cuts to local government funding.