Palmetto residents should soon

be hearing from the tax man.

If you haven't added onto your

house or seen an increase in your assessment in Palmetto, then you can

expect to pay the same amount of property tax that you paid last year.

An increase in the city's

total real estate value from just over $53 million in 2002 to $71 million

in 2003 required the Board of Tax Assessors to conduct a reassessment,

said city administrator Bill Shell. Residential and commercial growth

in the past year have combined to bring up the total value.

After the final public hearing

on Monday night the Mayor and City Council of Palmetto set the new millage

rate for property taxes in place at 4.50 mills, which is the same as last

year's rate. An increase in the city's tax digest in the amount of $18.7

million due to re-assessments and growth in the area made the new rate

necessary.

���� In addition an announcement

was made to remind those present that City Hall would be closed Thursday

and Friday, November 27 and 28 in observance of Thanksgiving.