Naples tax bills to arrive soon

By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — Today and tomorrow, the United States Post Office will participate in a task considered by citizens to be less joyous than the Christmas card blitz.

The local post office staff will be sorting and distributing the property tax bills of Naples residents.

People should receive their property tax statements in the mail over the weekend and through early October, according to Naples Town Clerk Judy Whynot.

Property taxes are split into two payments — with the first payment due Oct. 20, she said.

The tax rate has been set at $13 for the 2013–14 budget year.

In other words, for every $10,000 worth of property value, the owner would pay $130.

Prior to the tax bills being sent to the printers, which is where the tax bills were on Monday, first the town had to readjust its budget.

During a Special Town Meeting on Sept. 19, citizens approved transferring $45,519 from the Undesignated Fund. According to Naples Town Manager Derik Goodine, the purpose for that reallocation was to close an anticipated revenue gap. The budget gap occurred because state revenue sharing and road assistance funding did not materialize.

One way to compensate for the budget shortfall — put forth by Goodine during the budget-planning process — was to deduct up to $100,000 from the road-paving fund. But, that idea was ditched.

With a price increase on paving materials, Goodine recommended keeping that funding in place.

Instead, the town’s citizens voted to use money from the Undesignated Fund, he said.

Last year, the mill rate was $12.30 per thousands.

According to members of the Naples Board of Selectmen, the Naples Budget Committee was able to keep the budget increase at a flat rate.

So, the majority of the tax rate increase from last year, 51 cents, is from the county and state tax. Less than one-third of the increase, or 19 cents, is the result of paying back a five-year, roads repair bond that was passed by Naples voters.