The North Port City Commission on Sept. 4 voted to continue the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 ad valorem millage ordinance and portions of the city’s budget to a second reading on Sept. 18, 2025. City staff presented a tentative budget based on a 3.7667-mill ad valorem rate that is projected to generate $39,421,820 in general-fund revenues at an assumed 96.5 percent collection rate.

City Manager Fletcher said the tentative budget reflects personnel costs for 14 additional general-fund positions and increases for facility maintenance, a transfer to the renewal and replacement fund, generator improvements and the city’s share of Fire Station 83 and 84 costs. Staff recommended approving Ordinance 2025-24 (adopting the millage rate), Ordinance 2025-25 (the non-district budget and capital improvement program) and continuing each to second reading.

On the millage ordinance, the commission voted 5–0 to continue Ordinance 2025-24 to the Sept. 18 second-reading meeting. The ordinance sets the city’s general municipal levy at 3.7667 mills for FY 2025–26; staff said that rate is 0.47 mills higher than the rollback rate of 3.7491 mills.

Commission discussion on the broader budget centered on personnel costs. Staff said the FY 2026 proposal includes 25 new positions overall; 20 of those positions are included in the budget item before the commission, while some positions are funded from enterprise or district funds. Commissioners and staff identified 8 positions split with the fire district; other proposed positions appeared in public remarks and staff lists that included roles such as assistant city attorney, grants compliance specialist, planning coordinator, code enforcement inspector(s), accountant III, multiple Fire/EMS positions, utility distribution operators, fleet staff and others.

Commissioner Duvall underscored the increase in ad valorem revenue from $36,548,170 last year to a projected $39,421,820 (about a 7.86 percent increase) and urged caution given planned increases in fire, road and drainage, and solid-waste spending. Commissioner Petro repeatedly urged considering a hiring freeze because recurring personnel costs are the largest driver of municipal budgets; Petro said the city budget has grown by about 20 percent and raised concerns about affordability for homeowners. Several other commissioners pushed back, saying targeted reductions or reopening the budget process would be a better approach than an across-the-board freeze.

Public comment included fiscal critiques and calls for restraint. Robin Bacai, a local real estate broker and former certified financial planner, said she compiled city adopted budgets over five years and found “basically 66% increase over 5 years” and urged the commission to avoid increasing spending. Jill Luke and Maria Ledley also spoke on budget impacts and expressed concern about new department proposals and percentage increases for fire and road/drainage districts.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 2025-24 (FY 2025–26 millage rate): motion to continue to second reading — passed 5–0; millage set at 3.7667 mills (0.47 mills above the rollback rate of 3.7491); projected general-fund revenue $39,421,820 (at 96.5% collection).

- Ordinance 2025-25 (non-district budget and capital-improvement program): motion to continue to second reading — passed 4–1; Commissioner Petro voted no. Staff stated the total non-district amount of the budget item as $2,262,122,950 (as read aloud by staff) and recommended continuing to second reading.

What the votes mean

The commission kept the proposed millage rate unchanged for the next step in the budget process and opted to continue the comprehensive non-district appropriations and capital program to Sept. 18 for a second reading and additional review. Commissioners debated whether to impose a hiring freeze; the commission did not adopt a freeze and left the proposed new positions in the FY 2026 budget for further consideration.

Clarifying details extracted from the meeting

- Proposed ad valorem (general municipal) millage rate: 3.7667 mills (stated by staff); rollback rate: 3.7491 mills.
- Projected general-fund ad valorem revenue at proposed rate: $39,421,820 (assuming 96.5% collection rate).
- New positions in FY 2026: staff identified 25 new positions overall; 20 positions included in the non-district budget item at the meeting; 8 positions split with fire district.
- Sample positions listed by staff: assistant city attorney; grants compliance specialist; planning coordinator; code enforcement inspector(s); accountant III; seven firefighter/EMT/paramedic positions (split funding); utility distribution operators; emergency vehicle technician; admin service specialist; additional roles in road & drainage and solid-waste districts.

Provenance (selected transcript excerpts)

- Millage ordinance read: “Ordinance number 2025Dash24. … The general municipal millage rate is 3.76667 mills… The millage rate is certified to the property appraiser and the tax collector of Sarasota County…” (transcript block starting at 00:34:39).

- Staff budget summary and projected revenue: “The fiscal year 20 25, 26 tentative budget is based on a 3.7667 ad valorem rate… The proposed rate is budget to generate $39,421,820 in general fund revenues at a 96.5 collection rate.” (transcript block starting at 00:36:34).

- Staffing and positions detail: “For fiscal year 26 there are 25 new positions… 20 positions that are included in this budget… 8… are split between general fund and fire district.” (transcript blocks starting at 00:40:44 and 00:41:24).

Next steps

Both the millage and the larger budget/CIP items were continued to the Sept. 18 second-reading meeting. Commissioners asked staff for clarifications about head count, fund splits, and timing for position starts; staff and commissioners indicated additional budget scrutiny will continue at the next meeting.