City staff provided a budget update at Wednesday’s meeting, reviewed the 2025–26 budget calendar and confirmed dates for the city’s tentative and final budget hearings.

The city’s finance and budget team said state revenue projections received to date for half‑cent sales tax and municipal revenue sharing match the assumptions in the draft budget. Staff said they are still awaiting state projections for communications services tax and local option fuel tax and expect to update council at the next meeting.

Why it matters: the city begins the statutorily required budget process each summer and must adopt a final millage rate and budget in September. Staff noted the tentative budget hearing — which will include the first millage vote — is scheduled for Sept. 3 at 5:30 p.m., and the final budget hearing and millage vote is scheduled for Sept. 17 at 5:30 p.m. (Florida law requires evening hearings in September). Both hearings are open to the public and will include additional staff presentations and opportunities for council direction.

Staff reiterated the council’s strategic priorities that guide budget decisions and asked council members to submit questions or requests for additional information prior to future meetings. The city will continue providing periodic budget updates through the August meeting cycle.