Seminole County sets proposed FY26 millage, schedules budget hearings after wide public comment

The Seminole County Board of County Commissioners voted 4–1 on July 22 to set proposed millage rates and to schedule two public hearings on the fiscal year 2025–26 budget, after a daylong review of department budgets and more than an hour of public comment on proposed tax increases.

County Manager Darren Gray presented the countywide budget and the board’s options for closing a structural shortfall. “The proposed fiscal year 26 budget totals approximately 1,230,000,000.00, which is up from just under 1,000,000,000 last year,” Gray said. He later summarized the choice facing the board: “That disconnect forces difficult choices. We must either reduce our services or identify new revenues that allow us to keep up with demand.”

Why it matters: county staff said the general fund faces a multi‑million dollar structural imbalance. Finance presentations and supplemental slides shown at the meeting projected general fund revenues for FY26 at about $345,600,000 and a FY26 structural deficit of roughly $34,000,000. Staff identified $154,000,000 in state and federal unfunded mandates that the county must fund, and estimated multi‑year pressures from rising transit, insurance and public safety personnel costs.

Major budget and revenue details shown to the board included: - General countywide proposed FY26 budget: approximately $1.23 billion (presentation figure). - General fund FY26 projected revenues: $345,600,000 (presentation figure). - Unfunded state and federal mandates affecting the county (presentation figure): $154,000,000. - FY26 structural balance shown in the presentation: negative $34,000,000. - Staff said 1 mill of ad valorem at current collection assumptions would generate about $54,400,000; a 0.5‑mill increase was presented as producing about $27,200,000.

The board debated revenue options. County staff explained three non‑restricted revenue levers that have been under consideration since the board’s March retreat: a 0.5‑mill ad valorem increase (to be advertised in the trim notice), an additional local gas tax, and raising the county utility/public service tax. Staff said the county’s current ad valorem (county portion) is 4.8751 mills; staff recommended advertising a countywide millage of 5.3751 mills (an increase of 0.5 mills) for the required Truth in Millage (TRIM) notices. The FY26 calendar for hearings was set: the first budget hearing was scheduled for Sept. 10, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.; the final public hearing and adoption was scheduled for Sept. 23, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.

On other revenue options, staff provided the board figures it said were used in the presentation: the county currently collects local fuel tax revenue (staff presentation used a $15.3 million figure tied to the local 10¢ per gallon levy in one slide and used other example calculations in different slides); staff said an additional 5¢ per gallon could provide several million dollars annually to the county (presentations showed figures of roughly $5.5 million to the county for a full 5¢ depending on the baseline used and that cities would receive a portion under state distribution formulas). Staff also said raising the utility (public service) tax from the current 4% to up to 10% could yield about $2,000,000 per percentage point (staff estimate), or roughly $12,000,000 total at 10% (presentation figure).

Public comment: more than a dozen residents addressed the board during the allotted public‑comment period. Speakers urged caution about tax increases, described household and business impacts, questioned transparency and asked about alternatives such as reallocations, impact fees, and additional cost‑control measures. Several commenters urged the board to pursue cuts and efficiency; others said capital and service levels (parks, libraries, public safety) merit stable funding.

Action: Commissioner Hurst moved to set the proposed FY26 millage rates and schedule the first and second budget hearings (Sept. 10 and Sept. 23, 2025). The motion passed 4–1. The board’s approval authorizes staff to publish the proposed millage rates in TRIM notices; final millage and budget adoption remain subject to the September public hearings and any changes the board makes at final adoption.

Next steps: staff will publish TRIM notices with the proposed county millage and continue presentations and follow‑up material in advance of the September hearings. Staff also said it will provide a simple taxpayer example showing the estimated dollar impact of a 0.5‑mill increase on representative taxable values.

Ending: The board’s vote begins the statutorily required public‑notice process. Final adoption of rates and the FY26 budget will occur after the two public hearings, where staff projections, public comment and any amendments will be considered.