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Pasco board sets proposed millage unchanged and schedules first budget hearing for Sept. 3
Summary
Pasco County budget staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget assumptions, reported a July 1 rise in taxable assessed value, and recommended no change to the general operating millage; the board approved the proposed millage and set the first Truth-in-Millage public hearing for Sept. 3, 2025.
At the July 15 meeting the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners approved proposed millage rates for fiscal year 2026 with no change to the general operating millage and set the first Truth-in-Millage (TRIM) public hearing for Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 at 5:15 p.m. in Dade City.
Amy Farrell, the county's budget director, presented the proposed budget assumptions and the county's five-year capital improvement program. Farrell told the board final July 1 taxable assessed value numbers yielded approximately $3.84 million more in ad valorem revenue for the general fund (after adjustments for sheriff allocation and payments to community redevelopment entities) and about $1.8 million more for the fire MSTU, compared with the June preliminary figures.
Farrell also explained offsetting pressures: repeal of the state's business rent tax and associated changes to half-cent sales-tax revenues reduced expected revenue by about $7.2 million. As a result, the county's reserves under the proposed budget were roughly $2.5 million lower than the numbers the board saw at its June workshop, which equated to about two fewer days of operating reserves. Farrell reminded the board its formal reserves goal is 60 days and that current reserves were about 34 days.
Key budget assumptions presented and adopted for publishing on TRIM notices included: no change to the general operating millage, no change to the fire MSTU rate, no change to the road rehabilitation MSTU, and a proposal of 0 mills for the parks MSTU. The proposed capital plan included funding for the Hudson Library renovation, a $3 million park capital maintenance increase directed by the board in June, and updated estimates for the sheriff's armory.
After questions from commissioners about the composition of the general fund and the size of reserves, a motion to approve the proposed millage rates and TRIM publishing and to set the first public hearing passed by voice vote.
The TRIM notices will reflect the board's proposed millage rates and the Sept. 3 hearing; the board will hold two public hearings in September before adopting a final millage and budget later in the month.
