Clearwater council adopts 5.885‑mill rate and approves FY2025‑26 operating and capital budgets

The Clearwater City Council on Sept. 17 adopted a 5.885‑mill property tax rate and approved the city's fiscal year 2025‑26 operating budget and six‑year capital improvement program by unanimous votes on second reading. The ordinances set the millage to fund police and fire services, pensions, debt service, road maintenance and capital improvements for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2025 and ends Sept. 30, 2026.

Kailene Castle, the city's budget director, said the meeting served as "the final public hearing required by Florida statute to finalize the fiscal year 25‑26 operating and capital improvement budget," and recapped earlier public steps in the process: the proposed budget was posted on the city website on June 30, a tentative millage rate was set at the July 10 council meeting, council held a work session Aug. 6, and the first public hearing was held Sept. 3.

The ordinance declaring the millage rate (Ordinance No. 98‑48‑25) sets the levy at 5.885 mills, which the budget director said is a 4.34…