The Leon County Children's Services Council board Thursday voted unanimously, save for one absence, to essentially raise its tax on the community to support more services for vulnerable children in Leon County.
The board kept the CSC tax rate at 34.7 cents per $1,000 in taxable property value, but that is still considered a tax increase since it will bring in an additional $760,012 next year because of increased values, for a total of $8.4 million generated from taxes alone for the agency. Records show the agency is going into its next budget year with $840,000 in reserves, its unspent balance from the current year.
That vote was despite complaints from members of the public who attended the meeting, disgruntled about failing to get a rollback on taxes in an era of inflation.
"Every little tax adds up and it might not seem like much, but we feel it in inflation," local homeowner Kline Miller said. "I think the rollback would have been better. They would have plenty of money."
Many public speakers pleaded on behalf of property owners and renters, and asked for a rollback rate to be considered. The requested rate was 32.4 cents per $1,000, which would have generated $7.8 million, an increase of $206,501 in 2025.
"I will never vote for rolling back the rate. I will always vote for rolling it forward, because I think it is a disingenuous argument for anyone to suggest that the Children's Services Council, based on the millage rate that it collects, somehow creates a great burden on our community," said Leon County School Board member Darryl Jones, who also serves on the council's board.
Each board member present reiterated the same sentiment: The children are the priority. The only member who was absent was Simone Marstiller, recently appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The council's vote comes as its summer programs are underway. Those programs are enriched with an academic component, an extended time of operation and free breakfast and lunch for children with extra money generated through tax revenues.
Christic Henry, a southside Tallahassee resident and community advocate, told council members that at first she did not support the local referendum for the council to generate funds through a property tax. She was converted, however, after seeing how the services affected children in her neighborhood.
"Thank you for your work, but it's not enough," she said, detailing how program slots filled quickly for summer programs this year. The council is using $1.7 million to fund 11 summer programs supporting 906 children.
The council voted last year to roll back its tax rate to provide a bit of relief to taxpayers. But the effects were apparent, as the council funded fewer summer programs this year and supported fewer children.
"That was a fraction of the need," Henry said, citing how parents were still calling for services after deadlines had passed.
"The value of our community is based on public safety and educational attainment," said Henry, also a real estate broker. "And if we don't continue to invest in those things the real estate impacts won't matter, because real estate values will go down or cease to increase."
- The council will hold its first public hearing on its proposed tax rate on Sept. 12. That's at 5 p.m., in the CSC offices at 2002 Old St. Augustine Rd., Suite A-50.
Alaijah Brown covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached atABrown1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter/X: @AlaijahBrown3
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