PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — Some Port St. Lucie homeowners say their property tax bills have jumped dramatically, putting new strain on household budgets and raising questions about how local taxes are calculated.

“I bought this home in June of 2024,” said Paul M., a Port St. Lucie homeowner. “The previous owner was paying about $3,200. I homesteaded, then got reassessed — and now my tax bill is $6,240. It’s the same house.”

Paul says that increase translates to more than $500 a month just in property taxes through his escrow account, on top of rising homeowner’s insurance costs.

See also: Port St. Lucie crowned hottest ZIP code in America: Report

“It truly is becoming an affordability issue,” he said. “Especially if you’re on a fixed income. When your taxes double, that’s a huge difference.”

City officials say they understand the frustration but stress that higher bills are not the result of a higher city tax rate.

According to the City of Port St. Lucie, the city’s millage rate — the rate it controls — has steadily declined over the past decade.

“We’ve reduced the millage rate over the last 10 years,” said Scott Samples, Public Information Officer for Port St. Lucie. “We’ve reduced our debt, and our credit rating has improved. That’s been part of our effort to be good financial stewards.”

Experts say the increases many homeowners are seeing are instead tied to rising property values.

“The higher the value goes, the more they’ll be taxed on,” said Gregory Dalessio, broker support manager with RE/MAX Gold. “It’s not because the city or county are raising rates.”

See also: New autism-focused school coming to Port St. Lucie, opening in 2026

Rapid growth has played a major role. Since 2020, Port St. Lucie’s population has increased by about 60,000 people, putting pressure on the housing market and affordability. Dalessio says that pressure has also contributed to a slowdown in home sales.

In response to growing concerns, city and county leaders recently met for the first time in a joint workshop — a meeting officials say will now happen regularly.

The goal, leaders say, is to better coordinate planning, manage growth, and look for cost-saving opportunities that could help residents over time.

“The focus was on things like roads and mobility, growth, and quality of life,” Samples said. “This was an opportunity to talk about how the city and county can continue working together in ways that best serve residents.”

Officials say no decisions have been made yet, but the new workshops are intended to provide clearer communication and long-term planning as budgets are developed.