Oviedo council adopts tentative budget, trims millage by 0.100 mill after debate on debt, reserves

The Oviedo City Council adopted a tentative fiscal year 2025–26 budget of $104,551,863 (net of interfund transfers) and set a tentative operating millage rate at 5.861 mills with a separate 0.114-mill general-obligation bond levy, council members confirmed after a 4–1 vote Sept. 8. The adopted operating rate is 4.32% above the rolled-back rate of 5.6184 mills; combined with the debt levy, the overall tentative rate is 5.975 mills.

The vote followed a staff presentation of the proposed budget, which had initially included a 5.961-operating millage. City staff said the tentative budget preserves current service levels, funds a 4% across-the-board salary increase for general government employees and negotiated raises for police and fire under collective bargaining agreements, and adds or reclassifies several positions including a 0.25 full-time-equivalent police records specialist and a new facilities maintenance technician.

“Since July, we received the communications services tax estimate from the state, which is just over $114,000,” said Ms. Jones, a finance staff member who reviewed the options. Jones told the council staff removed a second-floor City Hall bathroom renovation from the budget and reallocated those funds, together with the communications-tax increase, toward vehicle replacements and, in an alternate scenario, toward…