Hendry County adopts tentative 6.77 millage rate, approves $133.7 million tentative budget amid public concern over tax increases

The Hendry County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 8 adopted a tentative millage rate of 6.77 mills and a tentative fiscal 2025–26 budget with proposed revenues of $133,731,277 after a public hearing that drew multiple residents who said higher property taxes and new assessments threaten household budgets.

Ian Proverbs, Hendry County budget director, opened the public hearing saying, “The rollback rate is 6.6104 mills. The proposed millage rate is 6.77, which is 2.41% more than the rollback rate.” He told commissioners the revenue increase is driven by higher employee costs, insurance premiums and additional public safety positions.

The budget matter drew lengthy public comment. Amanda Dominguez, who identified herself as the spouse of a retired Hendry County deputy and as a former county corrections employee, said her household property tax bill rose from about $1,400 last year to nearly $3,900 under the proposed figures, and urged the board to “step back and to reconsider, spread increases out, find areas to cut waste, and work with families instead of against us.” Jacinto Cervino of North Nogal said services have not kept up with rising taxes: “Our taxes have been going up annually, but our services seem to be decreasing.”

Commissioners moved through a series of related decisions about municipal service benefit units (MSBUs) that prompted the most debate. After initial public discussion about East Recreation and the West Fire MSBUs, the board approved a package motion to adopt all MSBU assessments that had no proposed increases, with the exception of West Recreation. The motion to approve the non-increasing MSBUs passed on a voice vote (motion by Commissioner Mitchell Wills; second by Commissioner Raymond Iglesias).

For West Recreation the board set a uniform $40-per-parcel rate for most areas, while carving out a geographic exception for parcels in the Wheeler-area described by staff as “south of Bedman Creek” (the board’s motion specified the exception and passed on a roll call voice vote). Commissioner Wills moved to set East Recreation parcels in Montura at $40 per parcel; staff provided a count of 1,670 Montura parcels and said reducing the proposed $45 rate to $40 would reduce revenue about $8,300. Commissioners also agreed to keep certain Wheeler Estates fire assessments at their current rate while raising assessments elsewhere in the West Fire MSBU; that motion was made and seconded and then approved by the board.

On formal motions: Vice Chair Mitchell Wills moved to adopt the tentative millage rate of 6.77 (seconded by Commissioner Emory Howard); the motion passed by voice vote. The tentative budget appropriation revenue estimate of $133,731,277 was adopted (motion by Commissioner Glaser; second by Wills). Several separate, later motions and amendments changed proposed MSBU rates and carved out specific geographic areas for different treatment; those motions were recorded and approved by the board during the same public hearing.

County staff repeatedly noted procedural constraints: the millage vote sets the maximum rate for the final hearing and the board can lower rates at the final adoption but generally must set a tentative rate at this hearing. Several residents asked staff to check property-exemption and homestead issues during the meeting after a public commenter said her tax bill rose sharply; county staff advised the commenter to contact the tax-assessment office to resolve a missing homestead exemption.

Why it matters: the millage and MSBU decisions determine how the county spreads the cost of public safety, parks and road work across property owners. Commissioners repeatedly framed the choices as balancing fiscal responsibility with preserving public-safety and recreation services for county residents. Several commissioners said they want more detailed MSBU boundary and usage analyses before making further structural changes.

The board gave staff direction to provide additional data on MSBU parcel counts, revenue impacts of rate changes and maps of the geographic carve-outs for Wheeler Estates and portions of East Recreation ahead of the final budget hearing.