Ocoee adopts tentative 4.95 millage rate, approves tentative $137M budget amid public concerns

The City of Ocoee commission on Sept. 10 held a public hearing and adopted a tentative millage rate of 4.95 mills and a tentative budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2025. The commission voted unanimously to adopt both ordinances, with Commissioner Oliver absent.

Assistant Finance Director Vanna Luski presented the budget and economic context, saying property taxes remain the city’s primary general-fund revenue and that “public safety still remains the largest cost for the general fund.” Luski told the commission the city’s operating funds total about $137,000,000 and that roughly half the increase from the prior year comes from enterprise-fund spending for utility upgrades and vehicle/equipment replacement.

The tentative millage of 4.95 mills was described in staff materials as producing approximately $25,500,000 in property-tax revenue under the presented assumptions. Luski and other staff listed several department-level items in the proposed budget: a police department budget shown as $24,800,000 with roughly $19,300,000 in personnel costs; capital allocations including vehicle and radio replacement for public safety; funding for three full-time firefighter positions; a budgeted $950,000 for a fire engine; and roadway and sidewalk paving and repair allocations in public works. Luski said some expense categories were reallocated this year (employee benefits, cell phone expenses and software subscriptions) to show more transparent department-level costs.

Commissioners and staff repeatedly cautioned that the city faces mounting fiscal pressure next year because of falling property values and pending state-level changes. The city attorney and staff explained statutory limits that affect millage adoption, including staff reference to section 200.185(3)(a) of the Florida Statutes for maximum millage computations and to the statutory notice requirements for millage changes. Luski and the city manager warned that declined property values from 2025 will be reflected in the 2027 fiscal-year calculations and that ongoing discussions in Tallahassee over property-tax reform could further affect local revenues.

Several members of the public spoke during the hearing. Resident Chris Adkins questioned timing and priorities, saying the city approved acquisition and operating costs for a golf course while other operational needs — including sanitation and fire equipment — show shortfalls. An unnamed resident who said she moved to Ocoee three years ago said she believed Ocoee homeowners pay higher combined property taxes than neighboring communities and called the situation “very unfair.” Noreen Dworkin, editor in chief of Vox Populi, asked whether the city avoided a millage increase by adopting a temporary fire fee; city staff confirmed the commission’s prior fire assessment decision reduced immediate pressure on the millage rate. Resident Alan Vance urged public education on proposals in Tallahassee to change property-tax systems.

Commissioners responded to public concerns. Commissioner Kennedy described the city’s fiscal outlook as a coming “financial crisis” driven by state policy changes and falling property values and noted the commission receives briefings from the city manager about emerging risks. Commissioners and the city manager also explained that the city’s recent return to management of the municipal golf course has produced net revenue in recent months, which staff and some commissioners said offsets some shortfalls.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance establishing tentative millage rate of 4.95 mills for fiscal year 2025–26: moved by Commissioner Wilson; seconded (recorded) by Commissioner Furschner; motion carried unanimously with Commissioner Oliver absent (tally: yes 4, absent 1). The ordinance as read set the tentative millage of 4.95 mills and noted the previously advertised preliminary millage of 5.5 mills. - Ordinance adopting the tentative budget for fiscal year 2025–26: moved by Commissioner Kennedy; second was recorded but not identified by name in the transcript; motion carried unanimously with Commissioner Oliver absent (tally: yes 4, absent 1). The adopted tentative operating budget total presented by staff was approximately $137,000,000.

What this means next The commission set the tentative millage and budget today; both will be subject to a final public hearing scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, at 6 p.m. Staff said they will prepare the required ordinance language and follow notice requirements under Florida law. Commissioners and staff warned the public that budget pressures — falling property values and pending state tax changes — could force future discussions about additional revenue measures or expenditure reductions.

Sources and limitations Report is based on the Sept. 10 city commission public-hearing transcript, presentations delivered at the hearing, and statements from named speakers during the meeting. Where the transcript did not list individual vote names, the vote tallies are reported as counts; individual yes votes were not read into the record in the transcript.