The Panama City Commission adopted its final fiscal year 2026 millage rates and budgets and approved multiple ordinances, contracts and event permits during its Sept. 23 meeting.

The commission voted 5-0 to adopt resolution 20250923.1 setting the city general fund operating millage at 4.7999 mills and the Panama City Downtown Improvement Board millage at 3 mills, yielding an aggregate rate listed in staff materials as 4.8626 mills. The commission then approved resolution 20250923.2 adopting the FY2026 budgets that staff presented: city expenditures totaling $136,524,276 (excluding interfund transfers) and $242,640 for the downtown improvement board. Both items were adopted after the required TRIM Act public hearings.

Also on the consent and legislative calendars the commission:

- Adopted Ordinance 32-83, amending the Unified Land Development Code to prohibit dock construction in the Lake Huntington Channel (vote 5-0).

- Approved a series of land-use and zoning items, including a future land use and zoning map change and voluntary annexation for parcels on Michigan Avenue and Jamden Drive (second/final hearings; votes 5-0 on each listed ordinance 32-68.1, 32-68.2, 32-79.1, 32-79.2, 32-79.3).

- Tabled the ordinance to vacate and abandon the alleyway right-of-way on High Avenue (item 7F) to the Oct. 14 meeting after a resident raised access concerns (motion to table passed 5-0).

- Approved a bid award for the Baker Court utility and roadway SRF project (bid PC25-038) to ECSC LLC in the amount of $2,964,071.12; the commission authorized a contract amount up to $3,112,274.68 to include a 5% contingency (vote 5-0).

- Approved renewal of the city insurance package with Preferred Governmental Insurance Trust (PIGIT) for FY2026 in the quoted amount of $3,340,551 (vote 5-0).

- Approved two special-event permit requests: Glenwood Under the Stars (first-Saturday evening market expansion) with one commissioner abstaining because of an identified conflict of interest (motion passed 4-0 with 1 abstention), and the Blood on the Bay Halloween event on Bayview Avenue (vote 5-0).

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 20250923.1, adopt final millage rates (city general fund 4.7999 mills; DIB 3.0 mills): motion/second; roll call 5-0; outcome: adopted.
- Resolution 20250923.2, adopt FY2026 budget (city $136,524,276; DIB $242,640): motion/second; roll call 5-0; outcome: adopted.
- Ordinance 32-83, amend ULDC to prohibit docks in Lake Huntington Channel: motion/second; roll call 5-0; outcome: adopted.
- Ordinances 32-68.1, 32-68.2 (2414 Michigan Ave future land use and zoning): motion/second; roll call 5-0; outcome: adopted.
- Ordinances 32-79.1, 32-79.2, 32-79.3 (2800 Jamden Drive annexation, future land use and zoning): motion/second; roll call 5-0 on each; outcome: adopted.
- Ordinance 32-81 (vacate/abandon alleyway on High Avenue): motion to table to Oct. 14; roll call 5-0; outcome: tabled to Oct. 14.
- Bid award PC25-038 Baker Court utility and roadway improvements to ECSC LLC ($2,964,071.12; approve up to $3,112,274.68 with contingency): motion/second; roll call 5-0; outcome: contract approved.
- Insurance renewal with PIGIT for FY2026 ($3,340,551): motion/second; roll call 5-0; outcome: approved.
- Special Event: Glenwood Under the Stars (first-Saturday evening): motion/second; roll call 4-0, 1 abstention (Commissioner Lucas abstained); outcome: approved with abstention.
- Special Event: Blood on the Bay (Oct. 31): motion/second; roll call 5-0; outcome: approved.

Why it matters

Adoption of the millage and budget establishes the city’s property tax rate and spending plan for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2025, and funds routine operations and capital projects. The Baker Court contract commits the city to a nearly $3.0 million SRF-backed infrastructure replacement project in an older neighborhood. Passage of the Lake Huntington dock ordinance changes local permitting and will affect current and future dock proposals within that channel.

What’s next

Several administrative follow-ups are required: staff will finalize closing on property sales noted earlier in the agenda, execute the ECSC LLC contract and return to the commission with any required administrative details. The alley abandonment will return for public hearing and staff will report back on access clarifications before Oct. 14.