Lynn Haven adopts $61.86 million budget, sets millage at 4.05%

The Lynn Haven City Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt a $61,858,708 general and enterprise fund budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and to set the final millage rate at 4.05.

The action came during a public hearing where commissioners also adopted the Community Redevelopment Agency budget and approved a budget amendment to cover emergency restoration work tied to an Aug. 8 plumbing failure. Finance director Kiki Hodges said the package included more than $820,000 in cuts and other reallocations, including shifting insurance costs from the general fund into enterprise funds to reduce pressure on the millage.

The commission’s unanimous vote followed a series of staff briefings and public comments. “We have gotten the millage back to 4.05,” Interim City Manager Lightfoot told commissioners during the meeting. Hodges said the final budget required difficult reductions: examples cited included removing a $93,000 rekeying project, saving $116,000 by maintaining current staffing, and downgrading a planned rescue truck to save roughly $140,000. Hodges also described reallocations that moved roughly $738,000 out of the general fund and into enterprise funds, with $460,000 assigned to administrative support and specific additions to water, sewer and sanitation budgets.

Public commenters urged the commission to prioritize long-term fiscal sustainability. Resident Johnny Bashears noted the city was still budgeting more than it expected to collect and urged long-term planning for big capital needs such as wastewater treatment. Commissioner discussion returned several times to the city’s sewer and water needs; commissioners said the commission will pursue a rate study and work with the county on options for the wastewater plant.

The commission also approved a budget amendment and payment to Servpro for restoration work after the Aug. 8 plumbing failure. The commission passed a resolution to add the amount to the current fiscal budget and approved payment of a $100,866.57 invoice to Servpro; staff said the city has submitted the invoice to its insurer and expects reimbursement minus the policy deductible.

Chief Johnson explained the decision to downgrade the planned rescue vehicle to a more maneuverable Ford F-250 that can also serve as a high-water vehicle. The chief said the change would allow multiuse of the vehicle and still meet operational needs in parts of the city with increasing call volumes.

Commissioners also discussed a library planning item, stormwater paving (including a recurrent pothole on Eighteenth Street) and the schedule and staffing impacts of moving commission meeting times. Several commissioners and staff stressed that emergency repairs are handled as they arise and that the annual budget process will account for those costs in future five-year projections.

The votes recorded during the hearing were unanimous for each measure. The commission closed the public hearing after the budget votes and moved on to other agenda items.