Commission fails to adopt proposed 1.8 millage rate; special meeting set to finalize tentative rate

The City Commission did not finalize a tentative ad valorem millage rate during the meeting after effort to adopt 1.8 mills stalled. City staff told commissioners the tentative millage must be transmitted to the county property appraiser by early August; the commission set a special meeting for July 31 to finalize a tentative rate.

Commission discussion ranged from calls to lower the city millage to 1.7 mills to questions about the city’s reserves and capital projects. A public speaker, resident Ken Percy, urged the commission to continue reducing rates and described the community expectation that staff and commissioners “dig a little deeper and continue this amazing winning streak” of lowering millage. Commissioners asked staff for detailed financial modeling and follow-up with the finance department before setting a final rate.

City staff and the city attorney explained the procedural constraints: the commission must set a tentative rate now to comply with Florida’s property-tax advertising and notice schedule, but the rate can be lowered later in the budget hearings; raising the rate later would be difficult. The commission attempted a motion but it did not pass and a motion for reconsideration likewise did not resolve the matter during the meeting. The city manager and finance director indicated the property appraiser needs the city’s tentative millage by August 1.

Outcome and next steps: no tentative millage was finally adopted at this meeting. The commission directed staff to schedule a special commission meeting on July 31 (evening meeting) to set and transmit a tentative millage to the county; commissioners asked staff to provide finance modeling and options for a lower millage prior to that meeting. This item therefore remains pending formal adoption.