Charlotte County, Punta Gorda property taxes set to rise in 2025 

Taxpayers in Charlotte County and the city of Punta Gorda are likely to see higher property tax bills in 2025 if proposed budgets are approved at final hearings later this month. 

The city of Punta Gorda is proposing to lower its millage rate to 3.8686, down from 3.95 in 2024. The budget will be discussed Sept. 10 at 5:01 p.m. at the Laishley Community Room, 150 Laishley Court. 

Even with the rate reduction, many property owners will still pay more. That’s because the Charlotte County Tax Appraiser’s office, which sets taxable values each January, recorded higher assessments for 2025. 

For example, one Punta Gorda property with a homestead exemption had a taxable value of $391,425 in 2024. The owner paid $1,546.13 for the city’s portion of the tax bill. For 2025, the taxable value rose to $464,588. At the lower proposed millage rate, the city’s portion still climbs to $1,797.31 

Florida’s Save Our Homes law caps annual increases for homesteaded properties at 3% or the change in the national Consumer Price Index, whichever is less. The law is meant to protect residents from being priced out of their homes due to rapidly rising values. 

The county’s General Fund shows a similar trend. The same property owner paid $2,368.86 toward the fund in 2024. For 2025, the proposed budget raises that amount to $2,811.64. 

Increases are also expected in other parts of the tax bill, including Charlotte County Public Schools, Southwest Florida Water Management, West Coast Inland Navigation and the voter-approved Environmentally Sensitive Lands program. 

School taxes will rise sharply. The property owner’s state-mandated school tax jumps from $1,276.76 in 2024 to $1,490.54 in 2025. The local school board portion increases from $1,352.55 to $1,592.53. The Charlotte County School Board will hold its final budget hearing Sept. 9 at 5:30 p.m. at 1445 Education Way in Port Charlotte. 

Other line items are also set to rise. Southwest Florida Water Management is expected to increase from $74.72 in 2024 to $85.07 in 2025. West Coast Inland Navigation goes from $15.42 to $18.30 and Environmentally Sensitive Lands rises from $78.29 to $92.92. 

The Charlotte County Board of Commissioners will host its final budget hearing Sept. 23 at 5:01 p.m. at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center, 75 Taylor Road in Punta Gorda. 

Property tax bills vary across the county, depending on whether properties fall under Municipal Services Benefit Units or Municipal Service Taxing Units. These special taxing districts, created by the County Commission, fund specific services such as street maintenance, drainage and roadways for certain neighborhoods. 

If approved, the budgets will take effect Oct. 1, the start of the new fiscal year.