East Lake Taxing District Proposal Moves Forward

Pinellas County Commissioners voted 5-2, Thursday to have county staff draft an ordinance allowing East Lake residents to fund their own library, according to a report in the Tampa Bay Times.

Many East Lake residents have been unhappy for years because a large percentage of money they pay for property taxes is distributed for use in other parts of the county, instead of being used in the community.  The median value of owner-occupied homes in East Lake is $312,700, according to 2010 U.S. Census records. With a population of 30,962 and 80-percent home ownership, East Lake homeowners contribute a hefty amount of money to Pinellas County tax coffers.

The commission's proposal would allow the creation of a separate taxing district for East Lake in which residents would pay a quarter mill in taxes and this money would fund the East Lake Library, according to the TBT report. East Lake property owners would no longer have to pay into the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative. It's a change that would most likely be well received by East Lake residents who were unhappy that much of this money went to fund libraries other than East Lake.

"East Lake has a library. They're willing to pay for it with a tax levy. But to charge them for the co-op as well, I just will not support it," said Commissioner Susan Latvala in the TBT report. "It's not fair."

The East Lake Community Library is located at 4125 East Lake Road, 727-773-2665.

What do you think about the taxing district proposal? Share your thoughts in the comments section!

Related:

• East Lake Library to Split From Palm Harbor Jurisdiction
• East Lake Library Could See Boost in Funding
• Tax Rate Restored for Library and The Centre
• Kids Have a Blast at East Lake's Version of "Lego Land"

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