The Longwood City Commission on Sept. 4 approved first reading of Ordinance No. 25-2271, setting a tentative ad valorem tax rate of 5.5 mills per $1,000 of nonexempt assessed value for fiscal year 2025–26.

The ordinance, read into the record by the city attorney, sets the proposed millage at 5.5 mills, which the attorney said is 6.82% higher than the rolled-back rate of 5.1489 mills as computed under Florida Statute 200.065. No members of the public spoke for or against the measure during the public hearing portion; the commission closed the hearing and approved first reading by voice and roll-call vote.

The commission took the vote after the public hearing closed. Deputy Mayor Shoemaker, Commissioner Boney, Commissioner McMillan, Commissioner Morgan and Mayor Brian Sackett all voted yes; the mayor announced the measure passed “5 to nothing.”

City officials said the first-reading approval sets the tentative rate and schedules a second public hearing. The ordinance will return on Sept. 15 for a final public hearing and formal adoption, consistent with state law and the city’s budget calendar.

Ordinance 25-2271 was introduced as the mechanism to set the tentative millage necessary to support the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2025.