Flagler County adopts $335.8 million FY2026 budget, approves final millage rates and pay plan

The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners on Monday unanimously approved the county’s fiscal year 2025–26 budget and related tax rates after a second and final public hearing required under Florida law.

John Brower, director of financial services, told the board the county’s final budget totals $335,772,213, identical to the tentative figure the board adopted at its first hearing on Sept. 11. Brower said the county is presenting an aggregate proposed operating millage of 7.9945 mills and that the total millage rate for FY 2026, including debt service levies, is 8.18 mills.

The actions adopted at the hearing included formal approval of the county’s classification and pay plan for FY 2025–26, formal adoption of resolution 2025-79 setting the final millage rates, adoption of resolution 2025-80 adopting the final budget, and a separate vote authorizing the county administrator to sign ministerial documents needed to complete the TRIM-related budget adoption process.

Why it matters: The board’s votes finalize how much property-tax revenue the county may levy and set the spending plan for county operations and constitutional officers for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. Brower said the adopted operating millage is higher than the calculated rollback rate, so the county complied with Florida’s TRIM advertising requirements.

Most important facts - The final FY 2026 budget adopted by the board is $335,772,213, the same total shown in the tentative budget approved Sept. 11. - The board adopted an aggregate operating millage of 7.9945 mills for countywide operations (Brower described that figure as the combined general fund operating levy and the voter-approved environmentally sensitive lands operating levy). Brower also reported that the total millage including debt service levies is 8.18 mills. - Brower said the 7.9945 operating millage is 4.98% greater than the rollback rate of 7.6151 mills; when the proposed millage exceeds the rollback rate the TRIM process requires a notice of tax increase, which the county published. - The board approved the FY 25–26 classification and pay plan as presented; staff said the plan is the same one used in FY 25 with one pay grade removed because it had no positions assigned. Additional changes were described as those resulting from union contract negotiations. - All motions taken during the hearing passed unanimously.

Public comment and staff response Residents used the hearing to press elected officials on salary levels and county spending priorities. Darlene Shelley of Palm Coast said, “I believe this budget is full of a lot of bloat,” and urged the board to reconsider high salaries and airport expenditures. Rich Stroges, a Palm Coast resident, said many residents live on fixed incomes and asked the board to “dig deep to find the waste” so the county could limit tax increases.

County staff and commissioners responded that the budget process is year‑long and constrained by statutory deadlines. Brower and other staff said public input is welcome during the budget cycle and that changes at this final stage are limited by the statutes that govern TRIM notices and final-adoption timing.

Votes at a glance - Motion to approve the fiscal year 2025–26 classification and pay plan. Mover: Commissioner Hansen; Second: Commissioner Richardson. Outcome: approved (unanimous). - Resolution 2025-79: Adopt final millage rates for fiscal year ending 09/30/2026 (general fund operating millage 7.8695 mills; voter-approved environmentally sensitive lands operating millage 0.125 mills; environmentally sensitive lands debt service 0.0855 mills; general obligation bonds (judicial center) 0.1 mills; total 8.18 mills). Mover: Commissioner Hansen; Second: Commissioner Pennington. Outcome: approved (unanimous). - Resolution 2025-80: Adopt final budget for fiscal year ending 09/30/2026 (total $335,772,213). Mover: Commissioner Hansen; Second: Commissioner Pennington. Outcome: approved (unanimous). - Motion to authorize the county administrator to execute ministerial documents required to complete the millage and budget adoption process. Mover: Commissioner Hansen; Second: Commissioner Pennington. Outcome: approved (unanimous).

What the board said John Brower, director of financial services, summarized the legal requirements: "The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners convenes the second and final public hearing on the Flagler County fiscal year 2025–26 final millage rates and final budget as required by Florida statutes chapter 129 and 200." Brower also explained how the county calculated the rollback rate and why the county advertised a notice of tax increase.

Board members noted the budget is the result of a months‑long process and encouraged residents to participate earlier in the budgeting calendar. Commissioners said they reduced some proposed expenditures during the process (for example, staff reported no 4% cost‑of‑living adjustment was approved; staff received a 2% COLA and merit pay was deferred pending a new merit structure). The board directed staff to circulate the salary schedule and other supporting documents to commissioners and to members of the public who requested them.

Background and next steps State law requires taxing authorities to hold two public hearings before adopting final millage and budgets and to submit adopted budgets by the end of September. The adopted FY 2026 budget takes effect Oct. 1. Administrative staff were authorized to execute the paperwork required by Florida statutes to complete the TRIM process.

Ending The board closed the second and final TRIM public hearing after unanimous votes on the millage, budget, pay plan and ministerial authorization and adjourned the session.