• One local organization is highly in favor of keeping the current millage rate. According to First Coast Apartment Association President Brenda Gallagher, low occupancy and the fees that were imposed in September 2007 have hurt the bottom line of apartment complex owners. Higher property taxes would hurt that bottom line even more. Gallagher says the current local occupancy rate is between 70 percent and 80 percent and it takes a rate of about 93 percent to break even.
