[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6498574,"mediaKeyId","5713067-6391e78f3d059c5bbf4e54aeda10c927","parentId",5713067,"title","Brooksville council reallocates budget items to fund repairs for ladder truck Tower 61","audioSeconds",135,"startMs",2113000,"endMs",2248000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5713067-6391e78f3d059c5bbf4e54aeda10c927&start=2113&end=2248","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5713067-6391e78f3d059c5bbf4e54aeda10c927/thumbnail_2113000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6498574/Brooksville/Hernando-County/Florida/Brooksville-council-reallocates-budget-items-to-fund-repairs-for-ladder-truck-Tower-61","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6498574-7da08b3a12cccb1b28cf4ad59b908bfd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770920387&Signature=L5Ix6GhMnJ9Xx3s-z8EQl3r-eOeaH5yqSRTfZfiYEZMNR9P-w11AivvpKOCtHBL9QU3rCzxiffXIFOfLfl9ZNigV0JFvVXekZHr9HwrTaSwG~UDivAZAzLPxnUf7Gy8Jk0ynfPXKt0wgRocRv4fmyQ9xrHf9145r1nUWjepJmoEQzjT1~t0ez9tLbO8anKX5EMEYO9zncpHroR1pQPzg2YVhQxp0wjFjgWSmLhCiN-jECIlyh1SrZ8uimMeG6TLKUi52aSkSdS~hxF~-7P04Fsogh4rb1kHSu29fIVHRpEtc-vZBA2ydO2jj~FStu6e5TA5oZxz2qClE1NpASeogMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Brooksville","date","2025-09-03T00:00:00Z","article","Brooksville city councilors voted unanimously to reallocate budgeted funds to pay for repairs to the fire department’s ladder truck (Tower 61), after staff identified available budget lines and the council directed the repair at a previous meeting.

Finance staff presented a budget amendment that moved available money from community development and promotional activities and from a parks building/improvements line (a project funded by ARPA) to cover the cost of repairs. The finance director told council that $10,000 could be taken from community development/promotional activities, and that the Tom Vaughan Park pavilion bathroom remodel was covered by ARPA funds and therefore available to reallocate for the truck repair.

The city manager noted the council had previously directed staff to repair the vehicle from funds already budgeted for the current fiscal year so that the city would not dip into reserves. Mayor Tanner thanked staff by name for locating the funds and said he appreciated the work to keep city equipment operational while longer-term negotiations about the fire department continue: “I appreciate Autumn and staff going and finding the dollars in the budget to pay for the repairs to this ladder truck.”

Action: The motion to proceed with repairs and the accompanying budget amendment passed 5–0. Councilors emphasized the need to keep essential equipment in service regardless of broader decisions about the fire department’s future.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Brooksville - Special City Council First Public Budget Hearing September 03, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved a budget amendment reallocating existing line items — including $10,000 from community development/promotional activities and ARPA-funded parks improvements — to pay for repairs to the fire department’s ladder truck without dipping into reserves.","taxTitle","Brooksville, Hernando County, Florida","taxId",52021,"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},6498580,"Brooksville approves extension of fire-protection interlocal with Hernando County through Dec. 1, 2025",90,2020000,2110000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5713067-6391e78f3d059c5bbf4e54aeda10c927&start=2020&end=2110","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5713067-6391e78f3d059c5bbf4e54aeda10c927/thumbnail_2020000.jpg","/articles/6498580/Brooksville/Hernando-County/Florida/Brooksville-approves-extension-of-fire-protection-interlocal-with-Hernando-County-through-Dec-1-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6498580-ef1f26c2a5684c96fd2f447d26ff8037/orig.mp4?Expires=1770920387&Signature=DDg63WMH54lOK3GF2J920qza00E~6hTPcjxTlloDQfzGcWTpITRqne6SRu5YYJVyt2fh4OuuK7n8mx7nxkD166RWr97O-wlQ~sBAzLndHTBtLZNSimxjWZKE-~AT3U4Mq33V6CgcnGxVaDP2kDjIW~EGKBEoFvc1KL5wjz3YtEq4cAiMB-98~dRVk9dRcA4iHSDhmr0xnEhSRkplKAtZQIEmSkhxQFM3dVvll0MMlSAHTgagiUaTe3KlH86qEOtn0cKNw0x~gONkKGdsLiVO4w4z1uNBFF32R7kSHhDVJ6pFijk-ydYh-OJjLaAVqWuME5pqsch82lV6YBXdraoBxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Brooksville City Council unanimously approved an extension to its interlocal agreement for fire protection and emergency services with Hernando County, moving the contract’s termination date from Sept. 16, 2025 to Dec. 1, 2025.

City Manager staff told the council the county had notified the city of a planned termination effective Sept. 16 to allow negotiations on a possible consolidation; the county agreed to extend that termination date to Dec. 1 to allow the parties more time to complete budget and operational discussions while ensuring uninterrupted fire service.

The city manager said the extension “ensures uninterrupted fire service during the continued discussions” and recommended council approval. Councilors voted 5–0 to accept the county’s offered extension.

The county already approved the extension, and councilors said only the city’s approval was required for the amendment to take effect. The extension leaves open further discussions between the city and county about potential consolidation of fire services, and councilors indicated that the topic will be discussed at upcoming budget and special meetings.

Action: Motion to accept the county’s extension to Dec. 1, 2025 was approved 5–0. No financial adjustments were recorded with the extension action; council and staff said financial implications will be addressed in follow-up budget discussions.","The City of Brooksville approved an amendment extending the termination date of its interlocal agreement for fire protection with Hernando County from Sept. 16 to Dec. 1, 2025 to allow continued consolidation discussions and to maintain uninterrupted service.",{"_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},6498584,"Brooksville council tentatively sets FY2026 millage at 6.5 mills, adopts tentative budget",1905,89000,1994000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5713067-6391e78f3d059c5bbf4e54aeda10c927&start=89&end=1994","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5713067-6391e78f3d059c5bbf4e54aeda10c927/thumbnail_89000.jpg","/articles/6498584/Brooksville/Hernando-County/Florida/Brooksville-council-tentatively-sets-FY2026-millage-at-65-mills-adopts-tentative-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6498584-bad3c353cea01cf7bf0aa93e77077966/orig.mp4?Expires=1770920387&Signature=dN6VjLdIKcJVUxjCuqR75FPImIIIPP2tNpNQexcZMCIhUzuPdPpDtIenqvMzSS2KzLihqCsFp0TIlwldTvF4M3oSTb-CGgoyK~E0aFLaj3nXX9zZE9YqMkMUtQhvUca6UNPi1LE7rQnO7iI1hQaY7LMKLv2aKNKCn913Y9H7262arW-EqV6IwYqzjAjQ6FVPniqMcFgTjpcxiiqGAtY-Z--N4oSGncYI8C~UX3sv-dpVTddExuoh~gEe9YaMFbDzjMzX~6t3kXgngtixhySxPs7JocSXy5o9Ti35uMQOz7Vkk0yF8ekXehgLNW~k8kIedD-Yp4hFhVIRvazAv1mWdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Brooksville on the first public budget hearing set a tentative ad valorem millage rate of 6.5 mills for fiscal year 2026 and adopted a tentative budget balanced at that rate.

The city clerk read the advertised notice that the proposed rate of 6.5 mills is a 13.23% increase over the current rollback rate of 5.7407 mills. The tentative budget presented to the council balances revenue and expenditures using that 6.5-mill rate, city staff said.

Why it matters: The millage rate determines property tax revenue available to the city. Councilors debated whether to set a lower tentative rate now and leave room to reduce spending, or to set 6.5 mills to avoid dipping into reserves and to fund a new capital improvement program (CIP) and other immediate needs.

City staff and council provided numbers during the hearing. The council was told the draft budget includes $1,500,000 in department budget cuts, an approved fire assessment to help fund the fire department, and an estimated $299,000 reduction in the sheriff's contract for FY2025–26. The budget preserves a minimum reserve of approximately $2,600,000 and establishes a startup allocation of about $480,000 for a CIP, staff said. The general-fund allocation for roads in the draft budget is $600,000 a year; staff said that typically funds work on roughly five or six streets annually depending on length and condition.

Finance staff summarized how different millage choices would change reserves and CIP funding. The finance director said of two examples, “At a 6.25 millage, the estimates that our finance department has provided… estimated reserves [would be] $2,400,000 and estimated CIP $290,000. If we stayed with a 6.5 millage, estimated reserves [are] $2,600,000 and estimated CIP $487,000.”

Council debate and votes: Council members debated a motion to set the tentative millage at 6.2 mills, with proponents urging additional spending cuts or outsourcing options and opponents saying 6.5 was necessary to restore the city’s long-term financial footing. Mayor Tanner framed the motion that eventually passed: “We are tentatively setting the millage tonight at 6.5.” The council adopted the tentative millage by roll call vote, 5–0. On the separate motion to accept the tentative budget as presented, the council approved the budget 4–1.

Public input and staff responses: During the public comment period residents asked about utilities, stormwater charges, recycling and ARPA spending. Donna Moore, a Brooksville resident, asked, “Are utilities going to be going up? How much is stormwater going to cost the taxpayers? Who will this affect…?” City staff said the city itself does not pay the county for stormwater; residents pay an MSTU to Hernando County that the city does not collect. Staff estimated the MSTU brings in roughly $81,000–$86,000 annually. Staff also said the city will propose a 3% increase in water, sewer and sanitation rates at a future meeting, noting that proposal follows the consumer price index and is subject to council approval. On ARPA spending for the fire department, staff later said the city used ARPA funds to replace the fire department roof at a cost of $19,900. On recycling, staff said 1,040 of 3,789 active utility accounts participate in curbside recycling; the city does not charge for recycling nor is it charged to dump that material.

Next steps: The council also held first reading of Ordinance 1003, the ordinance appropriating monies for FY2026; the ordinance was accepted on first reading and will receive final consideration at the next meeting. The final millage and budget are scheduled to be set at the city’s next budget hearing on Sept. 15, 2025, at 6 p.m., when councilors said they expect to review CIP priorities and potential alternatives.

Votes at a glance: Tentative millage resolution (Resolution 2025-18) — adopted by roll call 5–0. Motion to accept the tentative budget as presented — adopted 4–1. First reading of Ordinance 1003 (tentative appropriations) — accepted 4–1 and scheduled for final reading on Sept. 15, 2025.","At a public budget hearing, the Brooksville City Council set a tentative millage rate of 6.5 mills for fiscal year 2026 and adopted a tentative budget balanced at that rate. Council members debated lowering the rate to 6.2 before voting; the millage resolution passed unanimously, while budget votes were 4-1 on some items.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Brooksville council reallocates budget items to fund repairs for ladder truck Tower 61

Brooksville approves extension of fire-protection interlocal with Hernando County through Dec. 1, 2025

Brooksville council tentatively sets FY2026 millage at 6.5 mills, adopts tentative budget