Pasco County adopts FY2026 budget, sets aggregate millage at 9.8433 mills

Pasco County commissioners on Sept. 16 adopted the fiscal year 2026 budget and set final millage rates, approving a $2,243,769,298 budget net of interfund transfers and an aggregate county millage of 9.8433 mills. The board reduced the general‑fund millage to 7.4042 mills — a 0.025‑mill decrease from the tentative rate adopted at the first hearing — while keeping the Transportation Trust Fund at 0 mills.

The budget matters because the recommended millage and higher taxable values together produce roughly $42.1 million in additional property‑tax revenue, which the county says will help fund parks capital maintenance, renovate the Hudson Library, provide operational resources for an expanded detention center and support across‑the‑board wage increases. The board also moved $2 million returned by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office into parks capital maintenance.

Budget director Amy Farrell told the board the package reflects work across departments to find efficiencies, including a 5% reduction in travel, targeted operating‑subsidy adjustments for road and bridge funds, and what staff described as ‘‘good faith’’ reserve reductions. Farrell said staff found over $3 million in general‑fund efficiencies and that the final motions give back ‘‘over $1,400,000 to the taxpayers.’’ She also said the county’s total FY2026 budget as presented is $6,174,119 less…