Zephyrhills City Council and the Zephyrhills Community Development Agency approved a series of budget, tax rate and procurement actions on Sept. 8, including first readings or approvals of the city budget and the millage ordinance, amendments to airport construction agreements and piggyback contracts for utility meter replacement and parks/stormwater work. The Community Development Agency separately approved reroofing the historic Jeffreys House.

The City Council voted unanimously to set a citywide millage rate at 6.25 mills for the 2025-26 fiscal year, a technical increase above the rollback rate the staff computed as 6.0848 mills under Florida Statute 200.065. Council also approved the proposed fiscal-year 2025-26 budget. City staff presented the budget as $136,000,000 in total expenditures, of which $70,000,000 is capital spending and about $43,000,000 is identified in two large projects: roughly $27,000,000 for a public works facility and $16,000,000 for Zephyr Park. Council discussion noted a planned $9,000,000 contingency parked in administration and a carry-forward/use-of-fund-balance recognition of roughly $3,200,000 in revenues.

On the consent agenda council approved multiple airport-related contract items. Staff said the Federal Aviation Administration will fund about 90% of apron construction at the T-hangars, and a state appropriation combined with city funds will cover a second box hangar and taxiway Foxtrot; an amendment adding box hangar No. 2 was described as roughly $4.2 million. The consent agenda passed unanimously.

The council also approved a piggyback agreement for a meter-replacement program with HST Utilities. Utilities Director John Bostick briefed council that the city plans to replace roughly 10,000 meters over three years (about 3,500 in year one, 3,500 in year two and the balance in year three). The council approved the piggyback authorization unanimously.

Public Works brought forward a consultant engagement to analyze and design a stormwater utility. The council approved using a piggyback agreement to hire Raftelis (spelled in the record as RAFTELIS) to conduct the study and directed staff to pursue billing the new fee on the property tax roll (through the county tax collector) rather than monthly utility bills; council passed that motion unanimously.

At the Zephyrhills Community Development Agency meeting earlier in the evening, members approved a reroof of the Jeffreys House. Staff said the roof is about 30 years old, the replacement estimate in the packet is approximately $39,007 (staff described the roof cost as about $36,000 plus roughly $2,600 for incidental repairs), and a building official had estimated that a limited repair would cost roughly $15,000 to $20,000 but could leave the building exposed to storm damage. The CDA motion to approve the reroof passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance
- Jeffreys House reroof (Community Development Agency): Motion to approve reroofing; outcome: approved unanimously. Cost in packet: $39,007 estimate (roof ~$36,000 plus ~$2,600 contingency). Staff noted possible additional requests if hidden wood/structural repairs are found. (Provenance: CDA discussion and vote.)
- Consent agenda (City Council): included airport apron construction, Hubbard Construction work, state appropriation items and amendment to add box hangar No. 2 (amendment described as adding ~$4.2 million, with state appropriation covering some hangar and taxiway work). Outcome: approved unanimously. (Provenance: consent agenda item and motion.)
- Ordinance 1506-25 (first reading) setting the millage rate at 6.25 mills (Florida Statute 200.065 cited): motion to accept ordinance; outcome: approved unanimously. (Provenance: public hearing and council motion.)
- Ordinance 15725 (first reading) adopting the 2025-26 budget (total expenditures presented as $136,000,000; capital $70,000,000): motion to adopt budget; outcome: approved unanimously. (Provenance: public hearing and council motion.)
- Piggyback agreement with HST Utilities for meter replacement (Utilities): motion to approve piggyback contract; outcome: approved unanimously. (Provenance: utilities director presentation and vote.)
- Piggyback agreement with Raftelis for stormwater utility study (Public Works): motion to approve piggyback and to pursue billing on the property tax roll (tax-collector billing); outcome: approved unanimously. (Provenance: public works presentation and vote.)

What the votes mean
- The budget and millage votes put the city on record with a 6.25 millage rate for the upcoming fiscal year and a budget that shifts much of the year-over-year increase into capital projects. Staff told council most of the increase from last year is capital spending rather than operating expansion.
- Several procurement approvals use "piggyback" contracts or continuing services arrangements to speed procurement. Council discussed the desire for multiple quotes for large maintenance projects; staff noted a continuing-services vehicle that allows single-vendor awards under $75,000 in certain circumstances.
- The stormwater vote moves the city into a planning and rate-development phase; council directed staff to pursue collection via the property tax roll, rather than through monthly utility bills, citing equity and public reaction concerns.

Limitations and next steps
Several actions (the Raftelis scope, the HST meter replacement program, the airport amendments) will proceed to implementation steps and contract documents; staff said more detailed cost breakdowns and potential future budget requests will come back to council if additional funds are needed (for example, if hidden structural repairs are discovered in the Jeffreys House reroof). The council and staff identified follow-up items such as implementing administrative policies for reserving capacity and additional briefings on large capital projects.