The City Commission of Flagler Beach voted 5–0 Sept. 9 to set the municipal millage at 5.45 and adopt the fiscal year 2025–26 budget, following discussion about staffing levels, capital projects and utility priorities. The commission approved Resolution 2025‑75 (millage) and Resolution 2025‑76 (budget) on voice and roll calls.

The budget vote finalized the tentative rate that had been adopted earlier in budget workshops. City Manager Martin told commissioners the rate “represents the same millage rate that you approved as the tentative millage rate and upon which the budget was presented” and that there was “no change to the proposed, tentative millage rate.”

Commissioners pressed staff on several line items during the public hearing. Commissioner Bellhimer said she was “not particularly pleased with the budget process this year” and objected to the practice of fixing a millage rate first and building a budget to match. She also questioned several new positions listed in the personnel schedule. City Manager Martin and staff clarified that some positions had been removed or restructured (for example, a communications officer position was not included in the final budget and communications duties will be assigned to the assistant human resources director/the executive assistant to the city manager). Finance staff also emphasized that listed figures are fully loaded employee costs (salary plus benefits and payroll taxes), not base salary alone.

Commissioners discussed utility staffing and whether to add an in‑house utility engineer. Commissioner Spradley and others said the city will be undertaking an advanced wastewater treatment program, reuse work and lift station upgrades and that in‑house engineering oversight could reduce reliance on outside firms. City Engineer Bill Freeman explained the utility engineer would focus on wastewater, lift stations and regulatory interaction with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Fire station repairs and equipment were discussed. The capital plan showed a bay door replacement and further station renovations; staff said the bay door work was accelerated after a building assessment and chief concerns. Commissioners noted the capital book previously listed parts of the station work as two years out and that the accelerated schedule had not been clearly relayed in earlier printed materials.

Police staffing and overtime also drew comment. The commission discussed hiring a third full‑time patrol officer and using overtime savings to cover the position if a new hire is successful. City Manager Martin said that if the city hires an additional officer, overtime allocations would be transferred into salary to cover the new position.

South Central water main allocation reduced for planning. During budget deliberations commissioners raised concerns about a $1.5 million capital allocation for the next three blocks of the South Central water main. Several commissioners said there had been no completed design and they were concerned about unforeseen subsurface conditions and rights‑of‑way. The city manager and Freeman said the $1.5 million is currently in the water fund and restricted for water system work; they proposed reducing the capital line to $500,000 to allow planning and preparatory work while preserving funds in the water fund. The commission directed staff to reduce the line to $500,000 and bring back alternatives and prioritized uses if the reduced amount is approved. The reduction was incorporated as an amendment to Resolution 2025‑76 before the commission’s 5–0 approval.

Timing and next steps. Staff said the budget will return for final reading on Sept. 25. Commissioners directed staff to provide updated budget pages reflecting the accelerated fire station work, the removal of positions no longer funded, and the revised South Central water main allocation.

Votes: Resolution 2025‑75 (millage) passed 5–0. Resolution 2025‑76 (budget, as amended to reduce the South Central allocation to $500,000) passed 5–0.