Titusville council adopts FY2026 budget, 6.3-mill rate and utility fee increases

Titusville — The Titusville City Council on Sept. 18 approved the cityY2026 operating budget, set a 6.3-mill ad valorem tax rate and adopted related rate changes for water, sewer and solid-waste service during a special public hearing and vote.

The council voted unanimously to set the operating millage at 6.3 mills, a 1.71% increase over the rolled-back rate of 6.1938, which the finance director said would generate $878,669 in additional ad valorem revenue over the FY2025 adopted budget. Council members also approved the cityudget ordinance and separate ordinances to raise water and sewer rates, increase residential and commercial solid-waste charges, and adopt the enterprise fund and capital improvements program budgets for FY2026.

The finance director (referred to in the transcript as "Terry") opened the hearing by reminding the council that it must adopt the millage rate before adopting the budget and that the public may comment before votes. "The operating millage rate to be levied is 6.3 mils," Terry said during the presentation, noting the rate is 1.71% above the rolled-back rate and complies with applicable Florida law referenced during the hearing. The director said the additional revenue is intended to fund a 3% cost-of-living adjustment, public-safety technology, vehicles and equipment and higher consumable costs due to inflation.

Council discussion ranged across budget details and planning items. Members asked for follow-up breakdowns on several line items, including professional services reductions in human resources and variances in economic-development consulting and promotional activity. Finance staff agreed to provide department-level detail and an accounting of specific professional-services expenditures for the councilefore midyear.

Councilmembers also discussed nonbudget items raised during the hearing: the upcoming 250th U.S. anniversary and the logistics and likely costs of a July 4 parade, the retirement this year of riverfront bonds that will reduce the millage roll by about 0.19 mills, and questions about the city
udit process and the organizational chart for the internal auditor. City staff described the external financial audit process (James Moore & Company currently holds the contract) and said a committee including at least one councilmember reviews and recommends external audit contracts as required by state procurement practice.

Public comment during the hearing included extended remarks from Stan Johnston, who identified himself as a former county and city professional engineer and raised several allegations about local water quality, sewage handling, and past city actions. Johnston said samples showed "176 parts per trillion" of a contaminant and called for additional testing of the Indian River Lagoon for toxins, pesticides and metals. Council and staff repeatedly directed him to stay on the meeting topic when his remarks moved beyond the immediate ordinance before the council. "I believe we've got poisons here, and I know we have poisons here," Johnston said at one point.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 27-2025 (millage): Adopted. Motion by Member Nelson; second recorded. Vote: Member Muscoso Yes; Member Nelson Yes; Mayor Connors Yes; Vice Mayor Cole Yes; Member Stoeckle Yes.

- Ordinance 28-2025 (adopt general and related budgets FY2026): Adopted. Motion by Member Nelson; second recorded. Vote: Member Nelson Yes; Mayor Connors Yes; Vice Mayor Cole Yes; Member Stoeckle Yes; Member Muscoso Yes.

- Ordinance 29-2025 (water and sewer rates): Adopted. Motion recorded; second recorded. Vote: Mayor Connors Yes; Vice Mayor Cole Yes; Member Stoeckle Yes; Member Muscoso Yes; Member Nelson Yes.

- Ordinance 30-2025 (solid-waste service charges): Adopted. Motion recorded; second recorded. Vote: Vice Mayor Cole Yes; Member Stoeckle Yes; Member Muscoso Yes; Member Nelson Yes; Mayor Connors Yes.

- Ordinance 31-2025 (enterprise funds and capital improvement program FY2026): Adopted. Motion recorded; second recorded. Vote: Member Stoeckle Yes; Member Muscoso Yes; Member Nelson Yes; Mayor Connors Yes; Vice Mayor Cole Yes.

What the changes mean

City staff described the budget as built on the 6.3-mill rate, yielding the additional $878,669 for FY2026. The finance director told the council that in the general fund ad valorem taxes make up roughly 36% of the general fund and that public safety accounts for approximately 44% of general-fund expenditures. The presentation also reflected a 5% proposed increase in both water and sewer rates year over year and a roughly 17.598% increase cited for solid-waste residential charges in the slides shown to the council.

Several councilmembers asked staff to return with updated comparisons to other jurisdictions once those cities adopted their final budgets, and to provide more detailed breakdowns of notable budget lines (professional services, economic-development consulting and promotional spending). Staff agreed to provide department-level actuals and revised budget comparisons.

Process and next steps

Council members and staff noted the city will continue work on the financial audit and finalize year-end roll-forward figures by late November; the manager said the audit contract is for multiple years and that a committee process recommended the current external auditor. The council did not alter the proposed budget ordinances during the meeting; staff said midyear adjustments remain an option if priorities or revenues shift.

The meeting concluded after the council adopted the five ordinances and took public petitions and requests under the rules for a special meeting.