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Votes at a glance: Zephyrhills council adopts millage and $136M city budget, approves trail designs and other items
Summary
At its Sept. 22 meeting the Zephyrhills City Council approved the 2025–26 millage rate and final city budget, awarded design work for two trail segments, selected an auditor, approved a large meter purchase to capture vendor discounts, and cleared several other staff items in unanimous votes.
The Zephyrhills City Council on Sept. 22 approved multiple measures by unanimous voice votes, including a 6.25 millage rate, final city budget for fiscal 2025–26, trail design work on two county roads, an auditor selection and a water-meter purchase intended to capture manufacturer discounts.
Ordinance on millage. On second reading the council set the city millage rate at 6.25 mils for fiscal year 2026–27, a rate staff said represents a 2.71% technical increase under Florida Statute 200.065 because assessed values rose. The clerk read the ordinance as Ordinance No. 1506-25; a council member moved approval and the council voted unanimously.
Final budget adoption. Council members adopted on second reading Ordinance No. 1507-25, the city budget for fiscal year 2025–26. Finance Director Ted Beeson said the total city budget is approximately $136,000,000, of which roughly $70,000,000 represents capital outlay. He told council $27,000,000 of that would be for a public works facility and about $16,000,000 for Zephyr Park; the proposed budget also includes a 6% employee pay increase. Council adopted the ordinance unanimously.
Design work for pedestrian/trail segments. Council approved two consultant work orders to produce design and construction documents for multiuse-pedestrian facilities on county road corridors: work order 103-25 (Wire Road / Daughtry Road to County Road 54) for $89,900, and work order 104-25 (Fort King Road, Simons Road to Jason Drive) for $112,000. Staff said both corridors are in county right-of-way and that the city will seek Pasco County and MPO partnerships for construction.
Auditor selection and utilities procurement. An auditor selection committee recommended CliftonLarsonAllen to provide auditing services; council approved entering an engagement for the coming fiscal years. Utilities staff also received council approval to purchase 3,500 Neptune water meters from distributor Ferguson to capture a Neptune “tariff” waiver and avoid an annual per‑meter price increase; staff said the timing and waiver would save the city about $91,612.50.
Other routine approvals. Council approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 1508-25 (a rezoning application described in a separate item) on its first reading; approved a historic-facade grant reimbursement of $5,000 for a Ninth Street property; and granted special-event alcohol approvals for Sabor Latino (11/15/2025), Polypalooza (11/16/2025) and Boots in the Hills (10/18/2025). All motions passed unanimously by voice vote.
What passed (summary): - Ordinance 1506-25 — millage rate set at 6.25 mils (approved on second reading). - Ordinance 1507-25 — city budget adopted for FY2025–26 (~$136 million; includes capital projects and 6% employee increase). - Work Order 103-25 — design for Wire Road trail, $89,900 (approved). - Work Order 104-25 — design for Fort King Road trail, $112,000 (approved). - Auditor engagement — CliftonLarsonAllen selected (approved). - Purchase of 3,500 water meters from Ferguson to capture Neptune tariff waiver — approved (estimated savings $91,612.50). - Historic façade grant — $5,000 reimbursement for 5354 Ninth Street (approved). - Special-event alcohol permits (Sabor Latino; Polypalooza; Boots in the Hills) — approved.
Most votes were taken by voice and recorded as unanimous; staff will circulate contract documents and engagement letters for signature where required.
