Columbia County opened the first of two public hearings on the fiscal year 2025–26 budget and the proposed millage rate, with staff recommending the current millage of 7.815 be maintained.

County staff presented the budget and the tax figures: gross taxable value certified by the property appraiser was stated as $4,683,192,926; the proposed millage is 7.815, the rollback rate was shown as 7.3515, and staff said the proposed rate represents about a 6.37% increase in revenue compared with the rollback calculation. The board opened the hearing for public comment and will hold a second hearing in two weeks.

Why it matters: maintaining the current rate while taxable values rise results in higher overall tax collections in dollars and cents; that extra revenue helps pay for personnel, utilities and capital work in a year staff described as “tight.” Staff said the budget limits operating increases where possible, includes a 2% salary adjustment for employees and transfers some utility operations to other entities to reduce county expenses.

Major budget points presented
- General fund: staff showed total general fund revenues increasing (from the current year) and described department-level changes: general government and sheriff budgets rose, 911 communications and parks saw modest increases, and Medicaid expenditures rose due to required payments. Organizational support (outside agencies) was reduced from the prior year’s level.
- Roads: staff highlighted a countywide road resurfacing fund budgeted at about $7.95 million and a separate $4 million road fund that the board uses for resurfacing and capital repairs. Staff described resurfacing priorities as set by the road department’s pavement ratings and said every resurfacing project must come before the board for approval.
- Utilities and industrial park: utility operations were reduced in the county budget because operational responsibility for some utilities will transfer to the North Florida Water Utility Authority and to the City of Lake City; a new Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) was proposed for the North Florida Mega Industrial Park and will be the subject of a separate public hearing.
- Capital projects and reserves: staff described a newly required road construction fund, the use of debt payoffs to free recurring dollars, and tighter capital spending overall due to lower-than-usual revenue growth and some state revenue reductions.

Public comment and board discussion
Residents and callers questioned how increased revenue—arising from rising property appraisals rather than a higher tax rate—would be used, and whether outside agencies that receive county appropriations appear before the board when seeking funds. A speaker who identified himself as “Steve” asked whether agencies receiving county dollars present financial statements; staff replied that specific appropriations and contracts are considered during upcoming budget hearings.

Several speakers raised concerns about the road resurfacing fund and how funds are distributed among commission districts. Staff and commissioners described a process where road priorities derive from the road department’s pavement‑rating system, and each district receives projects based on that engineering assessment rather than by unilateral commissioner allocation.

What the board decided
The board opened and closed the first public hearing and took a first-step adoption vote consistent with the process leading to the second hearing; the matter will return to the board for the second public hearing and final adoption following the statutorily required notice period.

Context and next steps
This was the first of two required public hearings on the FY2025–26 budget and millage rate. Staff and commissioners reiterated that the proposed millage does not raise the rate compared with the current year; final levies and the budget will be adopted after the second hearing. Citizens were invited to submit questions and attend the next hearing for detailed presentations of department budgets and outside‑agency funding.