Ormond Beach approves tentative millage and first-reading budget after hours of public comment

The Ormond Beach City Commission voted unanimously Sept. 3 to adopt a tentative operating millage and take the first reading of the fiscal 2025–26 budget after a lengthy public comment period packed with appeals to protect youth sports, parks and public safety funding.

The commission approved an amended operating millage of 4.3867 mills and a voter-approved debt-service millage of 0.063 mills for a combined rate of 4.4497 mills; the finance director said that operating rate is 12.36% above the rollback rate of 3.9042. The commission also held first reading of the annual budget ordinance for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2025.

The adoption is significant because it establishes the property-tax rate that will appear on fall tax notices and sets the legal framework for the city’s $131 million adopted operating budget (the finance director described a larger “working” number on the city transparency portal that will be adjusted at year end). The city attorney’s memo to the commission reminded members that state law requires a budget and millage be adopted and warned of fines and withheld state revenue if the city failed…