Stuart commission approves balanced budget plan, directs staff to return with adjusted millage to add four firefighters

The City of Stuart Commission on Aug. 25 directed staff to return to the Sept. 8 TRIM (Truth in Millage) hearing with a balanced budget based on the advertised 4.75 millage rate but amended to include four additional fire-rescue positions, after a 4–1 roll-call vote.

The motion, moved by Vice Mayor Collins and seconded by Commissioner Clark, passed with Commissioners Gioby, Clark, Vice Mayor Collins and Commissioner Reid voting yes and Mayor Rich voting no.

City Manager Mike (city manager) opened the workshop saying the proposed budget staff presented is balanced at a 4.75 millage and noted staff would return to the required TRIM hearings on Sept. 8 (tentative millage and tentative budget) and Sept. 22 (final millage and final budget). “Absent direction from staff or from the commission, we’re at 4.75 and the budget will be balanced and we’ll move forward,” the city manager said during the presentation.

Why it matters: the commission’s decision directs staff to incorporate four additional full-time fire-rescue positions into the fiscal 2025–26 budget and to show the revised millage that would fund those hires at the statutory TRIM meeting. Fire staffing and overtime were recurring themes in the workshop, with Vice Mayor Collins and the fire department urging incremental hires and a “floater” model to reduce overtime and minimum-staffing gaps.

Staff presentation…