Titusville tentatively sets FY26 millage at 6.3 mills, advances budget and utility rate changes

The City of Titusville City Council held the first of two statutorily required public hearings on the FY26 budget on Sept. 11 and tentatively adopted an operating millage rate of 6.3 mills and tentative general, enterprise and capital budgets.

City Manager (City Manager) opened the meeting by reading the purpose of the hearing, saying, "Purpose of this special meeting is to conduct the first public hearing as required by Florida statute for the FY26 City of Titusville annual operating budget." Finance staff presented the budget and rate proposals that underlie the tentative actions.

The council’s tentative operating millage of 6.3 mills is 1.71% above the rollback rate of 6.1938 and, according to staff, generates $878,669 of additional ad valorem revenue compared with last year’s adopted budget. Finance staff said the FY26 budget includes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for employees and targeted increases for public safety, technology, vehicles, equipment and consumables. The presentation noted local property values rose about 9.5% for FY26 while state shared revenues declined roughly 15.4 percent; health-care costs were presented as up about 35.6 percent. City staff reported meeting the statutory 10% cap on prior-year revenue and that the budget includes the required 50% city contribution to the OPEB trust.

Staff presented a citywide total budget figure of about $157,000,001 (staff noted two post-workshop changes: roughly $557,219 in new contract revenue from additional school resource officer agreements and removal of about $730,003.56 in debt service related to the North Brevard Economic Development Zone, yielding a roughly $156 million net figure going into the final hearing).

Council and staff outlined planned utility rate changes. The finance presentation and accompanying slides showed a 5% increase in water and sewer rates across customer classes; examples cited included a 3/4-inch residential meter using 5,000 gallons seeing about a $4.70 monthly increase and a commercial 1-inch user on 15,000 gallons seeing about a $16 monthly impact as the user moves into higher tiers. Solid-waste residential service was presented as an 8% increase, producing about a $1.43 monthly impact; staff summarized the combined typical utility impact at about $8 per month for a standard household. City staff also noted the stormwater non-ad valorem assessment remains $2 per month for many customers.

Council action and votes

- Ordinance 27-2025 (tentative operating millage, 6.3 mills): Council voted to tentatively adopt the millage at 6.3 mills (1.71% above the rollback rate). A roll-call recorded the five members present voting "yes": Mayor Connors; Vice Mayor Cole; Member Stoeckle; Member Moscoso; Member Nelson. This was a tentative adoption required by Florida statute; final adoption is scheduled for the second hearing.

- Ordinance 28-2025 (tentative general and related budgets): Council voted to tentatively adopt the FY26 general and related budgets. Roll-call recorded the same five members voting "yes." Staff explained that a resolved TIF (tax increment financing) arrangement with the county led to removal of a North Brevard Economic Development Zone debt-service entry and rolling city TIF receipts into the budget; council and staff discussed options for preserving or reallocating funds for economic development going forward.

- Ordinance 29-2025 (water and sewer rate ordinance, public hearing held): The ordinance title and code sections to be amended were read into the record and a public hearing was held. Council did not take a separate tentative adoption vote on Ordinance 29 during this meeting; final action is expected at the Sept. 18 hearing as part of the remaining formal motions.

- Ordinance 30-2025 (solid-waste charges and commercial dumpster fees, public hearing held): The ordinance title and code sections were read and public comment was taken. No separate tentative adoption vote was recorded for Ordinance 30 at the Sept. 11 hearing; it remains scheduled for final action at the Sept. 18 hearing.

- Ordinance 31-2025 (enterprise fund and capital improvement program budgets): Council voted to tentatively adopt the enterprise and CIP budgets; recorded roll-call votes were unanimous among the five members present.

Public comment and discussion highlights

Residents and commenters addressed both budget specifics and broader concerns. Stan Johnston, identifying himself as a former city employee and a professional engineer, repeatedly raised concerns he described as budget-related and alleged long-standing city practices (he was cautioned at times for addressing material the mayor and chair said was not on the specific agenda line). Kevin Rosa, a resident, urged the council to consider operational changes before raising rates — suggesting curbside tree pickup permitting or routing changes to reduce collection frequency and costs — and noted income levels in Titusville are lower than neighboring Orange County, arguing for sensitivity to rate impacts on fixed- income households.

Council members and staff discussed the status of the North Brevard Economic Development Zone TIF after the county dissolved the zone; staff explained the county action removed the zone and that, administratively, the prior zone trust fund items were removed from TRIM submittals. Council members asked staff to return with options for setting aside funds for economic development without relying on the prior TIF structure.

What’s next

The council held tentative votes required by Florida law at the first public hearing and will meet again at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 18 for the final public hearing and formal adoption of the millage and budget ordinances. Staff indicated the proposed water, sewer and solid-waste ordinance amendments presented Sept. 11 will also return for final action at that hearing.