No property tax rate hike in Gulfport

GULFPORT — The city's property tax rate will not increase for the sixth year in a row.

The City Council unanimously approved a property tax rate of about $4.04 for each $1,000 of assessed, taxable value. A home valued at $100,000 after homestead exemptions would pay $404 in property taxes.

Property values in Gulfport have increased by almost 8 percent, which adds about $235,000 in revenues to the city's 2017-2018 budget.

Non-union city employees, working in divisions like sewer, storm water and sanitation, and at the library, received a 3.5 percent raise.

Police and fire department employees have annual salary increases, ranging from 2 to 3 percent, based on a pay plan approved in 2015 as part of their union contracts.

"The number one thing is to provide a high level of personal service to the residents," City Manager James O'Reilly said last week. "We operate much like a larger city at very affordable costs to our residents."