Council sets tentative FY2026 millage, schedules two public hearings

Titusville City Council on July 22 set the tentative operating millage rate for fiscal year 2026 and scheduled the two required public hearings. The council approved a tentative millage (as part of the motion) and set the first public hearing for Sept. 11, 2025 and the final public hearing for Sept. 18, 2025. Why it matters: Setting a tentative millage establishes the maximum tax rate the city will publicize while allowing council to reduce the rate later. State and local timelines require the council to set a tentative rate and publish notices before final adoption at the second hearing. Budget context provided: The finance director explained the two-step process and noted the city’s committed fund balance (approximately $10 million). Staff discussed changes to how capital and maintenance items were classified in recent years (for example, reclassifying road repairs and removing a separate roads-and-streets fund). Council discussed unfunded priorities including street lighting and multi-year capital purchases; the finance director and staff noted an unexpected expense this fiscal year for a replacement fire truck purchased when an apparatus was lost in an uninsured accident. Action taken: Council voted to set the tentative operating millage and to schedule the two public hearings. The exact millage and the dates were recorded in the separate motion and roll-call vote taken at the meeting. Next steps: Staff will prepare and publish the required notices and the proposed budget documents for the hearings; council will consider the final millage and budget at the Sept. 18 final public hearing.