BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Clay County Commissioners unanimously set an initial millage rate of 8.601 during their July 23 meeting. Under Florida law, the five-member panel may lower the rate easily but cannot increase it without sending out new truth-in-millage notices.
In addition, not all county taxpayers will pay the same rate. Clay County millage is divided into several taxing units, with a base rate of 5.5471 mils.
Residents living in unincorporated areas will pay an additional millage of 0.1477.
There is a law enforcement taxing unit millage of 2.4014. Orange Park and Green Cove Springs residents are exempt from that millage because those cities have their own police departments.
In addition, there is a fire control taxing unit of 0.5048, of which Orange Park residents are exempt because the town has its own fire department.
There are two special district taxing units, one for Lake Asbury, for which the rate is zero, and one for Challenger Center, which runs along the First Coast Expressway and has a 3.00 mil rate.
