School Tax Information

The Florida Constitution requires property appraisers to establish the property tax base as of January 1 of each year. It then will apply the exemptions, classifications and assessment limitations to determine each property's taxable value. Learn more about property assessments and appeals at www.collierappraiser.com.

Below is an equation to assist in calculating the school taxable value of a property:

The market value is determined by the Property Appraiser's Office. A homeowner's tax bill is based on a combination of the rate and the property value. If property values rise, tax bills go up even if the tax millage rate stays the same.

Local governments levy a property tax rate called a millage rate.

City, county, and special districts establish rates locally.

School districts' rates are set annually by both the legislature and locally by the School Board.

LEGISLATURE

The Legislature establishes the millage rate based on the General Appropriations Act. Legislative committees meet to debate continuing and new initiatives in education and set a budget based on these results within the General Appropriations Act. The budget determines the Required Local Effort (RLE) for each school district. The RLE is the amount of funding that each district provides annually towards the cost of the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP). The aggregate RLE for all school districts is prescribed by the Legislature as a specific line item in the annual General Appropriations Act. The Commissioner of Education is also authorized to adjust the millage rate to make sure no school district's RLE exceeds 90% of that district's total FEFP entitlement. The Legislature establishes a per student funding amount which is based upon the local authorities taxing of both the RLE and the 0.748 discretionary millage.

SCHOOL BOARD

The Capital Outlay Millage is determined locally by the School Board within parameters that are set by the Legislature. Currently, the maximum Capital Outlay Millage allowed is 1.50 mills. These funds can only be used for capital needs such as construction, renovation, remodeling, and equipment.

In August of each year, the Property Appraiser sends each property owner a Notice of Proposed Property Taxes, or TRIM (Truth in Millage) notice. The date, time, and location of each local government's budget hearing is provided along with the proposed millage rates.

Tentative Budget Hearings with the School Board are typically held at the end of July and Final Budget Hearings are held in September. The final millage rate is determined at the Final Budget Hearing.

In November of each year, the Property Appraiser sends the final tax bill is sent to property owners. If payment is made early, a discount is applied. The payment is made to the Collier County Tax Collector's Office.