Commissioners set maximum proposed millage at 7.815 and keep MSTU rate unchanged

County staff presented proposed tax-rate items and the board moved to set the maximum proposed millage rate at 7.815. David Krause (county manager) explained the recommendation to hold the millage steady, noting the board had not raised the millage in decades and that the 2021 adjustment reduced the rate from 8.015 to 7.815.

Commissioner [motion mover] moved to approve the maximum millage rate of 7.815 and a second was called; the board voted and the motion passed. Staff said adopting the maximum proposed rate will be followed by a final public hearing on September 3 when the board will set the final millage. The board also approved keeping the MSTU (municipal service taxing unit) rate for the North Florida mega industrial park at 7.815.

Staff provided comparative per-capita and total-property-tax levies showing Columbia County ranks modestly below many peers. The measures passed by voice vote; no roll-call tally of individual commissioners’ votes was recorded in the transcript.