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Commission accepts proposed balanced FY26 budget framework, maintains tentative millage at 4.42 mills
Summary
City staff presented a proposed balanced FY26 budget that keeps the city’s tentative millage at 4.42 mills, requests 83 new positions across departments, maintains a 4% general employee raise and proposes capital projects and fees; commissioners approved staff recommendations to advance the budget to public hearings.
Tallahassee staff told the City Commission on July 11 that the proposed fiscal year 2026 balanced budget builds on the city’s strategic priorities with investments in public safety, infrastructure and economic development and keeps the tentative millage rate at 4.42 mills.
City budget presenter Robert said the proposed FY26 budget includes 83 total new positions across departments, including 20 additional police officers, requested airport staffing, parks and recreation maintenance for 100 parks, senior center staffing and public-safety positions. Staff said those 83 positions bring staffing to about 14.9 full-time equivalents per 1,000 residents compared with a 20-year average of about 15.3 FTEs per 1,000 residents.
The proposed general fund to support police, parks and recreation, sidewalks and human services was described as approximately $225 million. Staff described a total operating budget across 14 funds of about $935 million and a capital budget of roughly $285.6 million.
Staff recommended maintaining a 4% pay increase for general employees in FY26 and retaining the existing family health-plan cost-sharing at 80% paid by the city and 20% by employees, which staff said yields annual savings for some family-plan participants. Robert said ongoing operational efficiencies across FY24–26 amount to roughly $7.7 million in improvements, including energy-efficiency financing, fuel hedging and a lease-management program.
Commissioners voted to accept the third-quarter update and to advance the FY25 amendments and FY26 budget items to public hearings on Sept. 3 and Sept. 17, 2025, both at 6 p.m. in Commission Chambers. The commission also approved a tentative millage rate of 4.42 mills for required publication.
Mayor thanked the budget team for producing a balanced proposal and commissioners asked staff to continue identifying long-term funding options for services such as fire and to examine infrastructure needs tied to future growth and density.
