Dade County commissioners adopt 7.5 millage rate after public hearing and votes

Dade County commissioners on Aug. 27 adopted a 7.5 millage rate for the county’s 2025 budget after a public hearing and a special-called meeting, approving a slightly lower rate than the figure the county had advertised.

The action followed the county’s third public hearing on the 2025 millage earlier that afternoon. The board approved resolution R-34-25 setting the unincorporated millage at 7.50 mills and the incorporated rate at 9.7002 mills, with the clerk recording the estimated tax collections at $5,358,766.

The millage-setting vote came after debate among commissioners over whether to adopt the advertised 7.75 mills, roll the rate back to 7.25, or choose an intermediate rate. The motion to adopt the advertised 7.75 mills failed; a separate proposal to set the rate at 7.25 also failed. Commissioner votes on the final 7.5-mill proposal were: Mr. Pullen, yes; Mr. Hartline, yes; Mr. Woods, yes; Commissioner Melissa Bradford, no; the chair, yes. The resolution passed 4–1.

The hearing included public comment about county spending and budget priorities. A resident, Sherry Calm, questioned purchases made with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, citing news reports about a $700 chair purchase and asking “what line item on your budget that comes out of.” County staff responded that the chairs were paid with ARPA funds, not the general fund.

County staff and commissioners described the purpose of the fund balance and budget pressures. The county’s fund balance was reported at approximately $3,520,000. Rebecca (last name not provided), identified at the hearing as the county’s chief financial officer, said property taxes account for about 25% of the county’s revenue mix and that the general fund must cover rising costs such as insurance, employee pay increases, utilities and contract escalators.

Commissioners who favored keeping the millage at or near the advertised rate argued that reducing the rate further would leave the budget underfunded and risk forcing a sharp tax increase in a future year to make up shortfalls. Commissioners who supported lowering the rate cited relief for taxpayers whose assessments rose significantly this year.

The board and staff also discussed other budget-related items during public comment and staff remarks: the county’s monthly ambulance contract with CHI Memorial (reported at $33,333.33 per month), ongoing discussion of an animal control facility and an elections building (a separate public meeting on the elections building was announced for the following Tuesday at 5 p.m.), and road paving work on Sand Mountain. Don (last name not provided), a former county clerk who spoke during the hearing, recounted the county’s post‑tornado borrowing and said the current fund balance grew from near zero after those events.

The board noted the millage decision will reduce the amount of tax growth that would otherwise have been added to the fund balance; commissioners said the approved 7.5 mills still funds the adopted budget and preserves some fiscal cushion. The resolution adopts the millage for 2025 and authorizes required advertisement of the final millage and the five‑year history as required by state law.

Votes at a glance: Resolution R-34-25 — Set 2025 millage at 7.50 mills (unincorporated) / 9.7002 mills (incorporated); estimated collections $5,358,766. Vote: Yes — Mr. Pullen, Mr. Hartline, Mr. Woods, Chair; No — Commissioner Melissa Bradford; Outcome: approved 4–1.

The board adjourned the special-called meeting immediately after adopting the resolution.