Orlando adopts $1.80 billion budget, holds millage at 6.65 mills

Orlando City Council adopted the final millage rate of 6.65 mills and the fiscal year 2025-26 budget at a second public hearing, approving a total proposed budget of $1,799,689,491 and a general fund of $739,605,671. The council approved the millage rate—4.27% higher than the rollback rate of 6.3774—by voice vote after a motion by Commissioner Sheehan and a second by Commissioner Stewart.

The budget and millage were presented as unchanged since the council—s initial hearing on Sept. 8 and were described by presenters as intended to maintain current service levels with public safety as the top priority. City staff said the final budget in brief and supporting documents had been posted to the city—s website earlier in the month and that a legal advertisement ran in the Orlando Sentinel on Sept. 18.

Council members moved and approved related tax levies and budgets for two district entities at the same hearing. On behalf of the Downtown Development Board (DDB), council adopted a 1.00-mill rate (the board—s proposed rate) and a DDB budget of $4,381,358. The Downtown South Neighborhood Improvement District (NID) millage was also set at 1.00 mill and its budget adopted at $1,070,465. Each of…