Property Tax Bill and Payment in Lee County

Once per year the the tax bills will be sent out by the city. A  tax assessment notice is usually distributed in August already whereas the final tax bill will be distributed in the last week of October. Often there are questions about how they are being calculated and what the single positions mean. This page should allow for a better understanding.

First of all the city will determine the total tax budget needed. After that the values of all properties will be assessed.

The city administration consists of different authorities, e.g. the authority responsible for schools, libraries, waste removal, pet control, water management, waterways etc. that all show their own portion of the taxes in the bill.

Lets assume that the total planned city budget is $280 million for the next year and that the assessed value of all properties within the city boundaries is $20 billion. The budget is being divided by the total value which results in a  so called millage rate of 0.014. We further assume that your property is being assessed at $250,000 by the General Appraiser. This amount is being multiplied with the millage rate: $250,000 x 0.014 = $3,500.  Your property tax will  then be  $3,500 per year. The General Appraiser only assesses the value of the properties, but not the millage rate. In the tax bill you will see all the single positions of the different authorities.

Payment:

All final tax bills will be sent to the owners recorded address during the last week of October. They are due on March 31st of the following year. You can save money by paying early. The city offers you a discount of 4% just by settling the account in November. Each month you will be able to deduct 1% less until you have to pay the net amount in March. If you have not paid by the end of March you risk that the city will issue a tax certificate to get the money from somebody else. To not lose any interest in your property you have to buy back this certificate from that person including fees and the additional charge of interest.

Tax bill details:

1. Name and Address of the owner

2. Address and legal description
     of the property

3. Assessed value and actual
     taxable value of the property
     considering any deductions,
     e.g. Homestead Exemption for
     Americans / Green-Card holders)

4. Amounts due depending
     on date of payment

5. Millage rates and amounts
     of the authorities (Ad valorem =
     depending on the value)

6. Amounts for lot mowing, stormwater
     fee or financed Assessments
     (Non-Ad valorem = not depending
     on the value of the property)

7. Payment slip for check payment. You can also pay the property taxes on the internet  with a credit card. All you need to do is go to the Tax Collector's webpage at www.leetc.com. In the main menu at "Property Taxes" just click on "Pay Real Property Tax". In the green field just choose "address" in the "Search By" field. In the address field just type in the address as shown.:

Taxes are being determined for the current year so that the change in values of the properties can be considered much better.