Sunrise adopts tentative millage, approves $596.1 million FY 2025–26 budget

The Sunrise City Commission on Wednesday approved a tentative millage rate of 6.0543 mills and adopted the city's fiscal year 2025'26 budget, a $596,100,000 spending plan that staff said preserves services while funding new positions, capital repairs and equipment.

Staff recommended the tentative millage rate and voted debt service levy during a public hearing. "Staff recommends that a tentative millage rate of 6.0543 mills be passed," Susan Neighbors, director of finance and administrative services, told the commission. The commission's motion to adopt the tentative millage was made by Deputy Mayor Kirch and seconded by Commissioner Scudo and passed unanimously.

The budget document presented by City Manager Mark Lubelski and Deputy City Manager Emily Smith preserves the commission's property tax rate for the 17th consecutive year at 6.0543 mills, a rate the city said is 7.23% above the rollback rate of 5.6463 mills because of personnel and operating cost increases. The city also adopted a voted debt service levy of 0.3019 mills to pay general obligation bonds for FY 2025'26.

The budget keeps the general fund structurally balanced, with…