BURN BAN RESCINDED
Hillsborough County rescinded the burn ban for the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county. Due to the recent heavy rainfall and projected weather conditions, an outdoor burn no longer poses a risk to the health, safety, and welfare of county residents. County officials will continue to monitor the conditions and update residents as needed. While the burn ban order has been rescinded, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue reminds residents to always take steps to prevent fires.
Prevention tips:
• Obey the rules that prohibit unauthorized burns.
• Avoid activities that cause open flames or sparks.
• Properly discard cigarettes, and don’t throw them out of vehicles.
• To help prevent brush fires and wildfires, unauthorized burns are not permitted in unincorporated Hillsborough County—meaning all open burning is prohibited unless an authorization has been obtained. Burning yard waste, tree debris, and household garbage on private property is not allowed because it can lead to an uncontrolled wildfire.
To stay in the know, sign up for HCFL Alert, Hillsborough County’s official mass notification system. It’s designed to keep subscribers informed about local emergencies, such as wildfires, evacuations, service interruptions, events, and important county news.
COMMUNITY CHORAL PERFORMS VOICES OF FREEDOM
On May 18, at 5:00 p.m., for its 17th annual Patriotic Concert titled Voices of Freedom, the Plant City Community Chorale (PCCC) will perform traditional and familiar patriotic pieces as well as contemporary songs that illuminate modern times.
The concert is sponsored by Hopewell Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens and will be performed at St. Clement Catholic Church, located at 1104 N Alexander Street in Plant City. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m., and the concert will last approximately 90 minutes.
Among the traditional patriotic songs PCCC Artistic Director Coleman Flentge has selected are, God Bless America by Irving Berlin, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, and Armed Forces: The Pride of America! –which includes the modern anthems of four of our active military service branches. Two Civil Rights era songs, We Shall Overcome, and Lift Every Voice And Sing, will join a Broadway hit from Les Miserables and several popular spirituals. Director Flentge has included El Pueblo Unido (The People United), a Chilean song, which expresses the yearning for freedom that endures around the world.
Tickets are $15.00, and are available at www.pccchorale.org; on Facebook at FB.com/plantcitycommunitychorale; or from any chorale member. Tickets may also be purchased at the Walden Lake Car Wash in Plant City or at the door the night of the concert. Children 12 years and younger are admitted free. For additional information, call PCCC Executive Director Ann Shepard at 813-220-8158.
GOVERNMENTS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS
Bob Henriquez, Hillsborough County Property Appraiser, released a statement on home valuations: Based on recent sales data, it’s clear that residential property assessments in the Tampa Bay area have stabilized, and we do not expect significant increases in property values for 2025. This means that local governments may not be able to rely on the sizeable property tax revenue increases that have helped fund their budgets in recent years. As a result, we are likely to see minimal to no change in residential property assessments this year.
The cooling of residential property values can be attributed to several factors, including high interest rates, rising insurance costs, damage caused by hurricanes, and concerns about future storms. Even commercial property values have been affected by some of these same factors.
It’s important to understand the statutory role of the Property Appraiser’s Office in this process and, just as importantly, what our office does not do. Contrary to popular belief, we are not responsible for raising or collecting property taxes. Our sole responsibility is to assess property values based on objective market conditions and real sales data. Our assessments reflect current market trends, not a mechanism to adjust taxes. We are committed to ensuring that our evaluations are accurate and fair, treating all property owners equitably.
What does this mean for the average homeowner? If you have a homestead exemption and have lived in your residence for several years, it’s unlikely that your property taxes will be significantly reduced. In fact, your taxes may still increase. This is largely due to state law and Amendment 10, which limits the annual increase in taxable value on most properties. Under Florida’s “Save Our Homes” amendment (Amendment 10), the taxable value of homesteaded properties can only increase by either 3% or the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less.
As a result, many longtime owners of homesteaded property may find that while their market value has dropped, it still remains significantly higher than the capped taxable value, which is subject to the 3% limit. This means that even if the market value decreases, your taxable value may still increase by the maximum allowable percentage.
Please note, property owners in Hillsborough County will begin receiving their notice of proposed property taxes, also known as the Truth in Millage (TRIM) notice, in mid-August. The Property Appraiser’s Office encourages property owners to reach out to my office with any questions or concerns about their assessment and exemptions. Additionally, there is a process in place for administrative review and appeals, if needed.
KEEPING THE STREAK ALIVE
In April 1977, the first season of city league recreational youth soccer began with 140 players. For 48 years—missing one un-played season due to the COVID pandemic—the program has offered an enjoyable, grassroots entry program into the sport. Today, the league has nearly 1,300 participants ages 4 to 18, and is the largest youth athletic program in East Hillsborough County.
Along with lots of fun, a constant in the program has been seeing two particular faces on the field officiating. Sam Singletary and Jack Holland have been a part of every year, officiating together each season. On Saturday, May 10, the tradition continued as Sam and Jack refereed an under-12 boys game together, keeping the streak alive for another year.
