Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the City Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Greenacres council sets tentative millage at 6.3 mills, holds first hearing on $81.8 million FY2026 budget
Summary
At a public hearing, the Greenacres City Council set a tentative property tax rate of 6.3 mills on first reading and heard a presentation on a proposed $81,792,071 operating budget for fiscal year 2025–26; the millage ordinance passed unanimously on first reading.
The Greenacres City Council on first reading set a tentative ad valorem millage rate of 6.3 mills and received a staff presentation on a proposed $81,792,071 operating budget for fiscal year 2025–26.
City Manager Miss McHugh opened the city's first budget hearing by reading the millage ordinance and explaining the Truth in Millage (TRIM) procedural steps required by Florida law. She told the council that the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser certified total taxable value for city property at $3,382,129,026, an increase of $240,847,423 (7.67%) over the prior year.
The council's tentative millage of 6.3 mills is 7.43% higher than the rollback rate (5.8641 mills) and, McHugh said, would generate $20,455,116 in ad valorem revenue — $1,530,146 more than fiscal year 2025. Council members voted to approve ordinance 2025-17 on first reading; the motion carried unanimously.
McHugh then presented ordinance 2025-18, the operating budget ordinance for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2025, which appropriates a total budget of $81,792,071. She summarized key figures from the draft budget: a proposed increase in total expenditures and appropriations from roughly $58.34 million in fiscal 2025 to $81.79 million in fiscal 2026; a budgeted ad valorem collection rate of 96%; an expected reduction in interest income due to drawing down fund balance; and an interfund transfer plan that includes transfers to the city's capital and emergency operations center (EOC) projects.
On expenditure items, McHugh noted that public safety remains the largest cost component — $28 million is budgeted for public safety — and explained that the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office contract (PBSO) reflects about a 3% technical increase (presented as 2.7% across the fiscal-year accounting because the contract year begins Feb. 1). She identified a $494,200 obligation for pension trust contributions required under chapters 175 and 185 for police and fire pensions and described a phased transfer of approximately $10.65 million to cover capital and reconstruction funds (including the 304 reconstruction/maintenance fund) and EOC costs.
McHugh also explained the distribution of every property-tax dollar to help residents understand tax allocation: 32.95 cents of each $1 goes to the city of Greenacres, 26.67 cents to Palm Beach County, 33.03 cents to the Palm Beach County School District and 7.35 cents to special districts.
The council scheduled a second public hearing and final vote on the millage and budget for Sept. 17, 2025, at 6 p.m. at Greenacres City Hall. During the first hearing the council took no public comments on the millage ordinance and no vote on the budget ordinance; the budget presentation and public comment period were held before the Sept. 17 final adoption vote.
Votes at a glance: ordinance 2025-17 (levying ad valorem tax at 6.3 mills) — approved on first reading, unanimous vote of members present. Ordinance 2025-18 (adopting the FY2026 operating budget of $81,792,071) — introduced and presented; public hearing opened; no final vote recorded at this meeting.
The council meeting record shows the budget hearing followed prior budget workshops on June 16 and July 21, 2025, and that staff advised residents and the council the state-level discussion about property-tax changes could affect future revenue. The council directed no additional formal action at this session beyond passing the millage ordinance on first reading and setting the date for the second hearing.
