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If a property tax increase were to have been approved, the increase would have been close to the following estimates:

Highland City is a suburb of Lakeland with a population of 10,602. Highland City is in Polk County and is one of the best places to live in Florida. Living in Highland City offers residents a rural feel and most residents own their homes. Many young professionals live in Highland City and residents tend to lean conservative. 21 Duplexes for rent in Highland City from $475 / month. Find the best offers for Properties for rent in Highland City. Two beds1.5 bathrooms duplex located in south lakeland highland city area. Washer and dryer hook-ups in unit and locking storage closet out back. These units never. Large duplex wi.

What were the pros and cons of a property tax increase?

Some of the positives to a property tax were:

1. The Highland City general property rate has not increased since 2006. The Library portion of the tax rate was added in 2007. There was actually a decrease in the rate in 2010.
2. A property tax increase would allow all money to be gathered in November – January so the City could bid projects in the winter and do construction in spring thereby saving money.
3. Property tax is state and federal income tax deductible. (Depending on your unique tax situation.)
4. Highland City general property taxes only make up 12% of your total property tax bill.

Some downsides of a property tax increase would have been:

1. In 2012 a property tax increase was passed by City Council. It was subsequently referred to the ballot, but because of timing, the vote would not have taken place until 2013. As such, the City elected to take away the proposed increase.
2. Tax exempt properties such as schools and churches do not pay property tax.
3. Property tax is based on property value and therefore not uniformly applied to those who benefit from it.
4. Property tax money goes to the General Fund not specifically to a 'Road Fund'.

What would have been the process be for the property tax increase?

Due to timing requirements of state law, the earliest City Council could have voted for a property tax increase would have been at the August 1 City Council meeting. Should Council have approved this option, it would have taken effect for the November 30, 2017 Property Tax Bill.

The increase would not have gone on the ballot for a vote unless the Council decision was referred by residents.

Highland City is a census-designated place (CDP) in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,051 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter HavenMetropolitan Statistical Area.

History[edit]

The modern-day area of Highland City was the site of the United States Army's Fort Fraser, established in 1837 during its war with the Seminole Indians. Zachary Taylor, former U.S. President, commanded the fort for a short period. Fort Fraser was abandoned shortly after its construction.

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In 1885, the Pemberton Ferry Branch of the South Florida Railroad was completed between Lakeland and Bartow. The area now known as Highland City was the only stop between the two larger cities. The stop, and eventual village, was named for the Haskell brothers, who were early investors in the South Florida Railroad. E. B. Haskell was a newspaper publisher from Boston, Massachusetts and his brother Dr. C. C. Haskell, of Maitland, Florida, was an original stakeholder in the South Florida Railroad. In addition to the town of Haskell, the South Florida Railroad's #6 locomotive was named the E. B. Haskell.^[3]

The Haskell freight depot was built by the railroad company along the roadway that would later become U.S. Highway 98. (In 1958, the depot was demolished due to its proximity to the roadway, and was replaced by a new freight building).^[4] The first postmaster (and also the first freight agent of the depot) in Haskell, Thomas A. Goode, was appointed on February 9, 1887.^[5]

Developer W. F. Hallam had begun to develop the Lakeland Highlands area by 1924. Hallam built the Hallam Country Clubhouse in the area west of Highland City and the road accessing the clubhouse became known as Clubhouse Road. The development of the Highlands also brought an influx of new residents to the Haskell community.^[5]

In 1925, the community of Haskell was incorporated by the Florida legislature, which also had the effect of officially changing the community's name to Highlands City. The city elected its first officials:^[5]

By 1927, the town's official area was reduced due to a lawsuit brought on behalf of a few Highland City landowners. This ended the town's short stint as an incorporated place.^[6]

Name[edit]

A common error in referring to this place is to add an 'S' to the end of 'Highland', causing the name to incorrectly read 'Highlands City'. For example, a new train depot, constructed in 1958, originally featured a sign with the mistakenly spelled 'Highlands City' name. Lakeland Ledger reporter Courtland Anderson made special note of the error in the caption of his photo of the new depot.^[4]

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When the community was briefly incorporated in the 1920s, the plural form was used.^[7]

Modern Community[edit]

The Highland City Volunteer Fire Department (HCVFD) works in conjunction with the Polk County Fire Department to provide fire protection for the Highland City area. For many years, HCVFD operated the fire service in Highland City on a completely volunteer basis. In the last quarter of the 20th century, Polk County consolidated many of its fire districts, and the Highland City fire station became an official Polk County Fire Station, under command of the Fire Chief of Polk County.

As of 1996, the Highland City community had organized an active community group. The group's goals included beautification, utility upgrades and safer neighborhoods.

On December 9, 2006, the community saw the grand opening of the Fort Fraser Trail, a 7.75-mile pedestrian and bicycle trail extending from the Polk State College campus south to Bartow.^[8]

Geography[edit]

Highland City is located at 27°57′46″N81°52′46″W / 27.96278°N 81.87944°W (27.962901, -81.879380).^[9]

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all land.

Highland City's street addresses put them on the Lakeland street grid; most street names have 'SE' in their name, indicating that they are southeast of Lakeland's 'point zero' intersection of Florida Avenue and Main Street. However, Highland City is often considered to be culturally closer to Bartow than Lakeland. Highland City Elementary, primarily feeds into Bartow Middle School and Bartow High School. Unlike its nearest neighbor, Lakeland Highlands, which is somewhat affluent, Highland City is a working class area with many mobile homes.

The Highland City census designated place is located on U.S. Highway 98, northwest of Bartow and east of Lakeland Highlands. The approximate limits of the Highland City census designated place are County Road 540A to the south, Clubhouse Road to the North, Strickland Avenue to the west, and 1st Street SE to the east.^{[needs update]}

Demographics[edit]

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 2,051 people, 766 households, and 562 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,474.7 people per square mile (954.1/km²). There were 818 housing units at an average density of 987.0/sq mi (380.5/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 83.72% White, 10.24% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.98% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.90% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.12% of the population.

There were 766 households, out of which 43.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 20.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 33.3% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $31,823, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $26,833 versus $21,038 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $13,925. About 9.5% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.9% of those under age 18 and 15.5% of those age 65 or over.

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See also[edit]

References[edit]

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1. ^ ^ab'U.S. Census website'. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
2. ^'US Board on Geographic Names'. United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
3. ^Hensley, Jr., Donald R. 'South Florida Railroad'. Tap Lines: The South Florida Railroad. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
4. ^ ^abAnderson, Courtland (1958-09-14). 'Highland City Gets New Freight Station'. Lakeland Ledger. Lakeland, Florida. p. 6.
5. ^ ^abcCoker, Mary A Skender (March 1987). 'History of Haskell, Highland City'(PDF). Polk County Historical Quarterly. 13 (4). pp. 6–7. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2011-07-27.
6. ^Maready, Jeremy (2007-05-13). 'Remember a Town Named Haskell?'. Lakeland Ledger. Lakeland, Florida. p. 1.
7. ^'An Act to Repeal Chapter 11517, Laws of the State of Florida, Approved November 30, 1925, and to Abolish the Town of Highlands City, in the County of Polk, in the State of Florida, and Providing for the Protection of the Creditors of Said Municipality, Appointing a Trustee to Wind Up the Affairs of Same and Providing for the Disposition of Tax Money Collected'. ActNo. 117 (Chapter 14599)of1929.
8. ^Brown, Jamie (2006-11-24). 'Public Invited to Come Out for Grand Opening of Fort Fraser Trail'. Lakeland Ledger. Lakeland, Florida. p. 7.
9. ^'US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990'. United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.