PALM BEACH GARDENS - City commissioners voted to tentatively increase the property tax rate by about 2.7 percent, according to city officials.

Commissioners voted last week to increase the property tax rate from $5.25 this year to $5.39 per $1,000 of assessed value of a property, said Donna Guiliana, director of public relations for Palm Beach Gardens. That is the maximum amount the tax rate could be increased and commissioners could still vote to keep it the same as this year when they approve the budget at public hearings on Sept. 10 and Sept. 24, she said.

The proposed budget includes cutting 10 existing positions and not filling several vacant positions, she said. Because of declining property value, keeping the tax rate the same would bring in about $4 million less in property tax revenue for the city next year.

The owner of a $250,000 home who has lived in that home for several years, could see a slight increase in their tax bill even if the market value of their property has fallen because state laws have kept the taxable value of their home far below its full market value. That homeowner would have paid $1,050 in city property taxes this year if they were able to claim a $50,000 Homestead Exemption. Next year the taxable value of their home would likely increase by 0.1 percent if it were still below the market value, and that owner would pay $1,079.

City officials are also going to several homeowner's associations to give them private budget workshops where they can comment before the September meetings. Any community that wants to request a budget workshop can call (561) 799-4110.