Who is getting ripped off in the County on their property taxes? By Geniusofdespair

It appears the people in Unincorporated Dade are getting ripped off on their taxes. Valentine (see below) got the best deal and she paid less taxes and got the most expensive house -- twice as expensive!! And Valentine's house is in North Miami, not known for low taxes.

The reason? Well, part of it is the new houses in Homestead have those tacked on developer fees for roads, sewers etc. They are called "Levying Authority: Non-Ad Valorem Assessments" and new homeowners usually get this added on their taxes for at least 10 years. But here is the surprise: the unincorporated areas also have levying authority taxes. Never knew this. They charge for Garbage, trash, recyling. I have a few examples that follow, so you can compare. I took out some of their tax expenses, I just left the major expenses. It is hard to compare apples to oranges but you can make some conclusions. Millage rates? I don't know but taxes sure are unfair (Hit read more to compare).

New House in Homestead

SERGIO with a homestead bought a new home in 3/2006 for $349,900
Taxes:
SCHOOL BOARD 7.69100 241,034 1853.79
COUNTY WIDE OPERATING 5.61500 241,034 1353.41
CITY OF HOMESTEAD OPERATING 6.25000 241,034 1506.46
Levying Authority Rate Footage/Units Amount
SOUTH DADE VENTURES 1.0000 1262.41 1262.41
Combined taxes and assessments (gross amount) for 2006 : $7179.74

MIRTA bought a new home with a homestead in 1/2006 for $325,000
Taxes:
SCHOOL BOARD 7.69100 210,125 1616.07
COUNTY WIDE OPERATING 5.61500 210,125 1179.85
CITY OF HOMESTEAD OPERATING 6.25000 210,125 1313.28
Non-Ad Valorem Assessments
Levying Authority Rate Footage/Units Amount
SOUTH DADE VENTURES 1.0000 1211.89 1211.89
Combined taxes and assessments (gross amount) for 2006 : $6370.42

Unincorporated area of Southwest Dade:

ALEJANDRO bought (a resale) with a homestead in 4/2006 for $543,000
SCHOOL BOARD 7.69100 434,268 3339.96
COUNTY WIDE OPERATING 5.61500 434,268 2438.41
UNINCORPORATED OPERATING 2.44700 434,268 1062.65
Non-Ad Valorem Assessments
Levying Authority Rate Footage/Units Amount
GARB,TRASH,TRC,RECYCLE 439.0000 1.00 439.00
Combined taxes and assessments (gross amount) for 2006 : $9448.68

Resales in North Dade (not new homes):

Unincorporated Areas:

FATEMEH bought in 4/2006 For $355,000
Taxes:
SCHOOL BOARD 7.69100 308,152 2370.00
COUNTY WIDE OPERATING 5.61500 308,152 1730.27
UNINCORPORATED OPERATING 2.44700 308,152 754.05
Levying Authority
GARB,TRASH,TRC,RECYCLE 439.0000 2.00 878.00
BISCAYNE .4291 134.00 57.50
Combined taxes and assessments (gross amount) for 2006 : $7328.66

FREDERICK with a homestead bought in 2/2006 for $344,000
Taxes:
SCHOOL BOARD 7.69100 332,716 2558.92
COUNTY WIDE OPERATING 5.61500 332,716 1868.20
UNINCORPORATED OPERATING 2.44700 332,716 814.16
Non-Ad Valorem Assessments
Levying Authority Rate Footage/Units Amount
GARB,TRASH,TRC,RECYCLE 439.0000 2.00 878.00
BISCAYNE .4291 70.00 30.04
Combined taxes and assessments (gross amount) for 2006 : $7810.83

City of North Miami:
(One might ask why assessments are so much lower in the North of the County, Valentines $725,000 home is being taxes on $241,308 and Dante's $720,000 home is being taxed on $312,602.)

VALENTINE with a homestead bought in 3/2006 for $725,000
Taxes: (It looks like they assessed her very low)
SCHOOL BOARD 7.69100 241,308 1855.90
COUNTY WIDE OPERATING 5.61500 241,308 1354.94
CITY OF NORTH MIAMI OPERATING 8.30000 241,308 2002.86
Combined taxes and assessments (gross amount) for 2006 : $6340.73

DANTE with a Homestead bought 10/2006 for $720,000
Taxes: (remember he pays $1,167 for a guard at this gated community)
SCHOOL BOARD 7.69100 312,602 2404.22
COUNTY WIDE OPERATING 5.61500 312,602 1755.26
CITY OF NORTH MIAMI OPERATING 8.30000 312,602 2594.60
Non-Ad Valorem Assessments
Levying Authority Rate Footage/Units Amount
SANS SOUCI SECURITY GUARD 1167.1400 1.00 1167.14
Combined taxes and assessments (gross amount) for 2006 : $9381.26