St. Lucie County has been identified as having the highest property tax rate in Florida, according to recent data from Florida TaxWatch. Residents in the area, including those in Fort Pierce, are experiencing significant financial strain due to these elevated rates.
Why St. Lucie County’s Property Tax Rate is High
County Administrator George Landry explained that the high millage rate is directly connected to the county’s relatively low average home value. He stated, “The average home value in St. Lucie County is below the state average, so if your average home value across the board is low, you have to charge a higher millage rate to generate necessary revenue.”
Residents Express Concerns Over Tax Rates
Local resident Nann Poole voiced her frustration, highlighting the challenges faced by homeowners. “I think it’s very high, very high. I don’t know how people do it,” she remarked. Similarly, Alberto Vaccaro, who relocated from Jupiter in Palm Beach County, was also taken aback by the property tax situation. “We moved up here thinking property taxes would be lower, but we were surprised they were as high as they were,” Vaccaro said.
Understanding the Millage Rate
For 2025, the millage rate in St. Lucie County is set at 21.79. This means homeowners with properties assessed at $300,000 will pay approximately $6,500 in property taxes annually. However, Landry clarified that the county itself is only responsible for about 36% of the total property tax rate. The remaining portion is distributed among other services, including law enforcement, schools, and water management.
Average Tax Payment Lower Than State Average
Despite the high millage rate, the average property tax payment per adult in St. Lucie County is around $2,006.89, which is below the state average. This figure indicates that while the rate itself is high, the actual dollar amount paid by residents is comparatively lower due to the lower average home values in the region.
Efforts to Alleviate Tax Burden
Landry noted that the Board of County Commissioners is actively working to diversify revenue streams. The goal is to ease the financial burden on residential taxpayers. “The Board has put a huge emphasis on trying to diversify the revenue stream to relieve residential taxpayers,” Landry emphasized.
Residents like Vaccaro remain cautiously optimistic but stress the need for further action. “A lot more needs to be done,” he concluded.
For more detailed information on property taxes and their implications, visit the Florida Department of Revenue website.
We encourage readers to share their experiences and thoughts on property taxes in St. Lucie County in the comments below and share this article to inform fellow residents.
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