The Orlando City Council at its first public budget hearing approved a proposed millage rate of 6.65 mills and released a tentative fiscal year 2025–26 budget that the city describes as balanced and focused on public safety. The council approved the proposed millage by motion of Commissioner Ortiz, seconded by Commissioner Sheehan, and the motion carried after no public comment was offered.

City staff said the proposed millage, 6.65, is 4.27% higher than the rollback rate of 6.3774 and was filed with the property appraiser by the August deadline for TRIM (Truth in Millage) notifications. The tentative total budget is described in staff materials as “just shy of $1,800,000,000” and includes a general fund of about $739,600,000. The staff presentation said the total budget is roughly $10,300,000 higher than the draft shown at the July 14 workshop, primarily because of increases to water reclamation capital project budgets.

The nut graf: City officials emphasized the package aims to hold the property tax rate flat for a twelfth consecutive year while funding priority items. Staff told the council the budget preserves current service levels and directs increased resources to public safety and infrastructure.

Among the changes highlighted in the staff presentation, the proposed budget funds 16 additional police officers and establishes a city-sponsored paramedic school to train future first responders. Council materials also said the budget includes “the most ever” funding for roadway pavement and rehabilitation. Staff noted the general fund is about $3,000,000 smaller than the July workshop version because the red light camera program budget was moved out of the general fund into a separate fund.

Commissioner Burns disclosed a potential conflict of interest during discussion: Burns said he serves as president and chief executive officer of the Health Care Center for the Homeless and that the council’s budget includes grant funding for that organization. "None of that money goes towards my compensation," Burns said, and he added that any future agreements between the city and the Health Care Center for the Homeless would return to council for individual approval and that he will abstain from voting when those specific items come before the council.

Staff materials detailing the proposed millage and budget were presented at the July 14 workshop and, the clerk said, have been posted on the city website since July 21. There were no public comments on the millage or the tentative budget at this hearing.

The council said it will reconvene for the second and final public hearing on the millage rate and final budget at the announced meeting in two weeks at 5:01 p.m.