[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6551271,"mediaKeyId","5345997-6a6254601a7085359af4a248d5d3578f","parentId",5345997,"title","Indian River County proposes $597.6 million FY2026 budget and sets proposed millage rates","audioSeconds",18241,"startMs",239000,"endMs",18480000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5345997-6a6254601a7085359af4a248d5d3578f&start=239&end=18480","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5345997-6a6254601a7085359af4a248d5d3578f/thumbnail_239000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6551271/Indian-River-County/Florida/Indian-River-County-proposes-5976-million-FY2026-budget-and-sets-proposed-millage-rates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551271-8c103dcb108032a0926f3ea4d67f1769/orig.mp4?Expires=1775559243&Signature=H1pXWu2VWh28SfnxTGIFsnEDgVQ0zSqytRsVIxwGXm5tJ3WR8NZYuPCIyOcImvtD6XamvKjbYItcDXKVNrEElVBGSBvBz2xFFYoU56PdjWkgfqzPGr0z1JOx6~1oJFkcVXEiKp~mnsmGT-O0uH~RGpFo7MuGv8z0DCQugXRi2qwidnB2rdnFc7oF9F4kpafv9PzCcLa56-E7nKsnkpVlt4gzMLHghgECBr3jg46OtcfmVHdLpMTQJp4q9y7aDo1BtHn-a8N~AbrpMQtWPP6bvpQ3-u2IgwmfxjW1Df7xKvmvZaIYsqpjtf7ve4grYDUxxkZvojezkYJ88zjgJgCyNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Indian River County","date","2025-07-09T00:00:00Z","article","Indian River County Administrator John Tkanic presented the proposed FY2026 all‑funds budget of $597,623,132 at the Board of County Commissioners\u0000 July 9 budget workshop, describing a set of fiscal pressures and modest revenue growth.

Tkanic opened the presentation by warning of slowing economic indicators and changes at the state level that could affect local revenues. He said the county faces weakening building permit revenues and lower impact fee collections and noted an 8.8% increase in the countywide tax roll (8.7% in unincorporated areas) that yields an estimated $8.68 million in new ad valorem revenue for the general fund.

Key figures in the proposed budget included: $156.9 million for the general fund; a recommended general‑fund millage rate maintained at 3.5475 mills (no change from the current year); a proposed countywide aggregate millage of 6.1158 mills; and total recommended staffing changes that net to 26 additional full‑time positions countywide, eight of which are in the general fund. Tkanic also highlighted mandated spending: he said roughly 72% of the general fund is tied to constitutional offices and state‑mandated services and that the sheriff\u0000s budget alone represents roughly 52.3% of general fund expenses.

Tkanic walked the board through impacts on taxpayers for example households in Indian River Shores and in unincorporated areas, noting how the board\u0000s recommendation to keep the millage rate unchanged can still result in higher taxes because assessed values increased. \"Setting a rate above the rollback legally counts as a tax increase even without raising the millage itself,\" he told the board, explaining the difference between maintaining a current millage and adopting the rollback rate that would hold revenue flat aside from new construction.

The board voted unanimously at the workshop to set the proposed millage rates used for TRIM notices: general‑fund 3.5475 mills, MSTU 1.1506 mills, Emergency Services District 2.3531 mills and the land acquisition bond millage at 0.061 mills. Commissioners and the administrator agreed to continue budget work in August and September and to reconcile outstanding items before final adoption. The board scheduled the preliminary budget hearing for Sept. 10 and the final budget hearing for Sept. 17, 2025.

Tkanic said he and department leaders would continue to refine the recommended budget and produce the monthly and quarterly reports that could prompt midyear adjustments if revenue softening materializes. The recommended budget preserves the county\u0000s current general millage for the sixth consecutive year while seeking to manage inflation, mandated growth in retirement and workers' comp costs, and individual department requests.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Indian River County - Board of County Commissioners on 2025-07-09 9:00 AM - Budget Workshop - Jul 09, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","County Administrator John Tkanic presented a $597.6 million all‑funds proposed budget for FY2026 and the Board of County Commissioners set the proposed millage rates at the July 9 workshop. The board maintained the general‑fund millage at 3.5475 mills but that rate is legally above the rollback rate and therefore is a proposed tax increase for TRIM","taxTitle","Indian River County, Florida","taxId",12774,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6551257,"Supervisor of Elections warns new state petition-notice law will raise verification costs",247,3873000,4120000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5345997-6a6254601a7085359af4a248d5d3578f&start=3873&end=4120","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5345997-6a6254601a7085359af4a248d5d3578f/thumbnail_3873000.jpg","/articles/6551257/Indian-River-County/Florida/Supervisor-of-Elections-warns-new-state-petition-notice-law-will-raise-verification-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551257-080b045c87f0be40e6077e42bbc3e191/orig.mp4?Expires=1775559243&Signature=I~M9P5VDxeAlkgXiZKddev~7LD1fuphFE5FHwRN11wt6bTC8fngTm2ChXIZnKBuQE4775nu6-xlGOvZHvlCAGhxELlUNf~1SGgqccuZjXVQbsFRxSCSqby-tC4SotCK5ZD1KrU770P5buTXNtEwbUrsHKflywUsCVBq73vdvW6tR68JGka3CeXh-LLphcHsO5tXfUsbQjeuakkg1n1Ll4Uykoj6oDnABTXLGzyqLBF5jZedX9nKeHZVA5rG3nYRyHVhOQS60kXXLF8YVal2CB1WzayJfdw22Ke-Hn7IRLz~pd9He8s~sCzqKB7mCS4jS1x8iASEVT0i-e7GbqOpKoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Supervisor of Elections Leslie Swan briefed the Board on July 9 about her proposed FY2026 budget and the financial impact of recent state legislation on initiative-petition processing.

Swan said her office historically receives thousands of petitions in large election cycles; in 2024 her staff validated more than 13,000 initiative-petition signatures. She explained that House Bill 1201, recently signed into law, adds a new requirement: for validated initiative petitions the elections office must send an affordable‑mail notice with a prepaid, preaddressed response card to each signer giving them an opportunity to report alleged forgery or misrepresentation.

Swan said the new notice obligation raises petition‑verification costs sharply. Where her office historically charged 25 cents per petition for verification services, she said implementing the new mailing requirement will increase that charge substantially (she estimated new fees around $3.20 per item to cover postage and response handling). Swan requested the board approve the office\u0000s proposed $2.421 million budget and indicated she would return later to formally request that the county roll the petition fees into her budget once the higher fee structure was finalized.

The board did not take a separate vote on fee changes at the workshop; commissioners asked staff to accept Swan's proposed operating budget for FY2026 and to expect a follow-up agenda item to align fee revenue and budget authority after finalizing the new statutory requirements.","Supervisor of Elections Leslie Swan told the July 9 budget workshop that House Bill 1201 imposes a new mailing requirement for validated initiative petition signers; the county elections office said the change will substantially increase petition‑verification costs and asked the board to allow fee revenue adjustments later in the budget process.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6551261,"County planning to assume animal services as Humane Society contract ends; $1.3 million estimate presented",220,4800000,5020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5345997-6a6254601a7085359af4a248d5d3578f&start=4800&end=5020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5345997-6a6254601a7085359af4a248d5d3578f/thumbnail_4800000.jpg","/articles/6551261/Indian-River-County/Florida/County-planning-to-assume-animal-services-as-Humane-Society-contract-ends-13-million-estimate-presented","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551261-b1c80976e7b973e4495c24fb5b379abc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775559243&Signature=PK5~OzG9sjMjjUxHZn7EJG7V-crisQ1n4D6zfty6YqNysMnZLZNhAMHenCp7PYTw~IX5LXEHwxqNpD9OxI-GrLYqIJm0SqmAcK8FRzv6sQLy03oSwjZ~faB3PfhWDZbpbw5QKcpwvd-EaZzB~2938vOao8BExVg2fzxmMLWrUPbVSLK278XHinFd4ggtJP2cUHuOKWQOJ-sdt-AcnENeuIuoybffpfC9EYQUSNUWYFrfFF96Pi4NosA4In1jIOPQoF-OUo4r2~PgtuYU1bXdtDUwSIn~NAwfB6Uo0l~214T3iX6gnXCmO7cOWmSE~MY0jBjb3P1HmBFY8TjQhqn5mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Indian River County administration briefed commissioners on July 9 on the county\u0000s animal services contract, which expires Nov. 30, 2025. County staff said they have been meeting with current nonprofit providers and that capacity and service issues have prompted the county to plan for an option to operate animal services in‑house.

John Tkanic told the board that animal-control staff have encountered cases in which the Humane Society lacked capacity or declined certain animals, leaving the county with public‑safety concerns. Staff presented a preliminary FY2026 estimate to operate animal services directly at about $1.3 million annually. That estimate, county staff said, would cover facility operations, staffing and transitional costs; staff indicated the first quarter of an in‑house operation would likely require substantial one‑time overlap funding with the Humane Society to ensure a continuous service as facilities are brought up to code.

The administration proposed to fund facility acquisition or facility upgrades through optional sales tax proceeds while ongoing operating costs would be charged to the appropriate program fund. Commissioners did not adopt a formal contract change at the July 9 workshop; staff said they would return with a detailed plan, funding ordinance language and transition timeline for board action before the November contract expiration.","Indian River County staff told commissioners July 9 that the county\u0000s contract with the Humane Society expires Nov. 30. Administration presented a preliminary plan and an estimated $1.3 million annual cost to operate county animal services while initial FY2026 costs would be funded from optional sales tax.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6551266,"County projects big landfill and recycling cost spike; universal collection assessment proposed",164,9961000,10125000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5345997-6a6254601a7085359af4a248d5d3578f&start=9961&end=10125","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5345997-6a6254601a7085359af4a248d5d3578f/thumbnail_9961000.jpg","/articles/6551266/Indian-River-County/Florida/County-projects-big-landfill-and-recycling-cost-spike-universal-collection-assessment-proposed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551266-40d60f0645db920078035a2dc332730f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775559243&Signature=S6vFNWECDa8Mk9JDZgPLsc129Dk6aM-RXvym8-8mKrFlBhG13fSQdh1QmH~yQQWZIIzv4fNueIX7JIitCGuHI3SJRNLwaydOtJmXDgYnMSrb1pLpcP7x1X6dwegwXBWtyheye7mWIFOGyXgTWyQ1BcbNuaSirDk~Or-gY8yDIcqTLIqNaS6R8VaDUpmbv3NJjVxdfetQezq9v1l1oNy27YVPHW9S3Eb0-~18qnCtOE3n6lG1cDlaOlP-ta-zJ2xegwmYvCDBG~~P5AqZ6ooBE3dtci7AQnQHEZKmf5IOZywC2rF5kHB9IUv5RSJYg0PcNTn8Es0mLU6MuL6FOKmTBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County Administrator John Tkanic and solid‑waste staff told the Board on July 9 that new contract rates for landfill and recycling collection will drive a substantial operating increase for the Solid Waste Disposal District in FY2026. Tkanic said the landfill contract renewals cause the landfill budget to increase from roughly $19.8 million this year to approximately $32.1 million in the coming fiscal year, a one‑year increase county staff estimated at roughly $12.3 million (about 62.4%). Recycling costs were shown rising as well.

To spread the cost of the new contracts, county staff presented a proposed annual assessment for universal residential collection of roughly $1.8170 per unit (presentation figure). Tkanic reminded the board that it previously adopted universal collection as policy; the workshop presentation outlined the assessment necessary to fund the new contract rates and the district's operating costs.

The board heard the presentation, asked clarifying questions, and took no separate final vote on the universal collection amount at the workshop. County staff said they would move forward with required notices and bring formal assessment rates and implementation details back to the board as needed during the budget process and in time for required public hearings.","County staff warned of a sharp one‑year increase in solid waste expenses driven by new contracts; proposed universal collection assessment would be added to annual bills. The Board heard the presentation July 9 and did not take a separate vote at the workshop.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6551276,"Sheriff and county spar over $14.6 million budget request as deputies and residents press for raises",743,5607000,6350000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5345997-6a6254601a7085359af4a248d5d3578f&start=5607&end=6350","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5345997-6a6254601a7085359af4a248d5d3578f/thumbnail_5607000.jpg","/articles/6551276/Indian-River-County/Florida/Sheriff-and-county-spar-over-146-million-budget-request-as-deputies-and-residents-press-for-raises","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551276-35ca769d2255dab977ef06dc760152b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775559244&Signature=apWxZGoHwUTkPdCZopOlD~19f2VyHyvWn485LBD6ENsjP4qC~Wn~~brc6r2CLIzrgyoEOHFE7nLlZYExOaYnNak21rbMhVvZDz6S~iCksVdCwVL0hwYYL~IGz0e36IrLr9aBT-sUj7B8UlIJSFObWUf8-svVZgBU3FW-ndLdErEXXq6q1Rv1-TtE8qOQf8xQDRiY~-SiTToip-gZU-QksDD9zKZRUq3QPqe~nTHiN1vviSirnKgvhKVg5StVDCaZ46Vt7oQ3VSk1fJSxnumRA0~duOcP22Ott1FG3vxR22QsfxbKi~0B1MBz84M3cqvfEKezH9d5p1zTeKLlCJvhXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sheriff Eric Flowers pressed the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners on July 9 for a $14.6 million increase to his proposed FY2026 budget, saying most of the added money is needed to raise deputy and civilian pay and to retain staff. County Administrator John Tkanic told the board he recommended a smaller increase — roughly $4.7 million — and warned the board to be cautious about long-term fiscal commitments.

Flowers told the board he had submitted his budget on May 1 and said the sheriff\u0000s office needs more money to avoid losing deputies to neighboring agencies. \"If you choose to fund less than what I\u0000m asking for, you are required by [statute] to provide me in writing exactly what it is that I\u0000m supposed to cut,\" he said, citing Florida Statute 30.49 in his presentation to underscore the statutory notice requirement if the board reduces an approved sheriff\u0000s budget.

County Administrator John Tkanic outlined revenue limits and fiscal pressures in the proposed county budget, noting that new ad valorem revenue available to the general fund totaled about $8.68 million. \"The sheriff's request is $14.6 million increase,\" he said, adding that continuing at that trajectory could put the county in a precarious position if state-level tax reforms or an economic slowdown reduce local revenues.

The two sides met privately and at a lunchtime session during the workshop to try to bridge the gap. Tkanic and the sheriff\u0000s office staff jointly identified a scenario that would add roughly $6.1 million more for sheriff pay increases beyond the administrator\u0000s original recommendation by trimming items across several county budgets (including delaying certain capital or program expenditures) and by rebalancing some fund transfers. Tkanic advised that more work was needed to refine scenarios before the county advertises proposed millage rates and before final adoption of the budget in September.

The public comment period produced sustained support for the sheriff's request. Dozens of current and former deputies, union representatives and residents urged the commissioners to fund larger increases to starting pay and to civilian salaries. Speakers, including correctional staff and a corporal in the sheriff's explorers program, described recruitment and retention problems and the difficulty many current employees face affording housing and basic living costs on current pay. Several callers said deputies were leaving for nearby agencies that pay substantially more.

Sheriff Flowers and his finance staff said the personnel portion of his request includes a $9.06 million increase for wages (sworn and civilian), and noted other operating and capital increases in the request. County financial staff flagged a small set of discrepancies in a spreadsheet the sheriff's team supplied and indicated corrections would be made; the sheriff and county staff agreed to reconcile those figures.

The board did not decide final funding levels for the sheriff at the July 9 workshop. Commissioners said they wanted additional scenarios and further reconciliation between county staff and the sheriff's budget team before making a final decision at the August/September budget hearings. The board did, later in the meeting, set the county\u0000s proposed millage rates for FY2026 (see separate article).","Sheriff Eric Flowers asked the Indian River County Board for a $14.6 million increase to his proposed FY2026 budget, focusing on raises to start pay and retention. County Administrator John Tkanic recommended a smaller increase and the meeting produced heated public comment urging the board to fund higher pay for deputies.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Indian River County proposes $597.6 million FY2026 budget and sets proposed millage rates

Supervisor of Elections warns new state petition-notice law will raise verification costs

County planning to assume animal services as Humane Society contract ends; $1.3 million estimate presented

County projects big landfill and recycling cost spike; universal collection assessment proposed

Sheriff and county spar over $14.6 million budget request as deputies and residents press for raises