Milton holds first of three public hearings on proposed FY2026 millage; advertised rate 4.193 mills

Milton City Council on Aug. 4 held the first of three required public hearings on an ordinance to set the city's FY2026 ad valorem tax (millage) rate, with staff presenting an advertised rate of 4.193 mills and explaining how that rate was calculated and would affect typical residential tax bills.

Deputy City Manager Bernadette Arbel, who presented the staff analysis, told the council that "staff has advertised a millage rate of 4.193 mills, which supports a proposed balanced budget." She explained that because the advertised rate exceeds the computed rollback rate, state law requires three public hearings; the council scheduled the remaining hearings for Aug. 4 at 6 p.m. and Aug. 11 after the work session.

The presentation laid out three millage scenarios: the current rate of 4.389 mills, the advertised rate of 4.193 mills, and the calculated rollback rate of 3.923 mills. Arbel said the current legal cap is 4.731 mills and noted the city's separate bond (green space) millage, which is not included in that cap. Based on current digest figures, staff forecast a bond millage of about 0.31 mills to cover FY2026 debt-service; Arbel noted the bond millage has been roughly 0.356 and 0.364 mills…