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Sebastian adopts tentative 3.4455‑mill rate and tentative FY2026 budget; council cites reserve, emergency risks
Summary
At a first public hearing, the City Council of Sebastian tentatively adopted a 3.4455‑mill property tax rate and a balanced fiscal year 2026 budget, with staff and council stressing limited reserves and potential emergency liabilities as reasons to avoid rolling back the rate.
The City Council of Sebastian on the first public hearing for the 2025 millage and 2026 budget tentatively adopted a millage rate of 3.4455 mills and a matching tentative budget for fiscal year 2026. Mister Stewart, chief financial officer, announced the proposed rate and said the figure is “14.29% higher than the computed rollback millage.”
The tentative budget covers the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2025, and ending Sept. 30, 2026. The council approved resolution R‑25‑31 setting the tentative millage and R‑25‑32 adopting the tentative budget after public comment and staff presentations.
Why it matters: the millage and budget determine how much property taxpayers will contribute to city services next year and set spending priorities for general, enterprise and special revenue funds. City staff and council members said reserves and potential unreimbursed emergency costs made holding the rate above the rollback necessary.
City staff presented the key drivers of the draft budget. Stewart, the city’s chief financial officer, said health insurance premiums rose about 7 percent and that nonunion employees are included for a 6 percent pay increase in the draft. Personnel…
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