Clearwater council sets tentative millage at 5.885 mills; public hearings scheduled

The Clearwater City Council voted unanimously July 10 to set a tentative millage rate of 5.885 mills for fiscal year 2025–26 and to schedule public hearings on the budget for Sept. 3 and Sept. 17, 2025. City officials presented a proposed total budget of $708,362,570 and said the plan keeps the millage rate the same as the prior year.

City Manager Jennifer Poyer introduced the balanced budget proposal and said departmental reviews focused on maintaining services while finding efficiencies. “Maintaining the current millage rate is essential for preserving our long-term fiscal stability,” Poyer said during the presentation. Finance staff outlined details of the plan, including operating and capital breakdowns.

The proposed budget totals $708,362,570 across all city funds, with operating and special revenue funds making up roughly $573.5 million and capital improvements about $134.9 million. Officials said the total is approximately 10% lower than the amended 2024–25 city budget. The general fund decrease of about 4% is largely attributable to a change in pension funding methods and elimination of one-time capital spending in the current year.

Staff said ad valorem tax revenue under the proposed millage is projected at about $109.1 million, an increase tied to a roughly 4.7% rise in property values reported by the property appraiser. Of that total, about $103.9 million would support general fund operations and about $5.2 million would be set aside for road maintenance.

The proposed budget includes reductions of 12.3 full-time-equivalent positions in the general fund, largely from modified library hours and other targeted cuts; citywide FTEs across all funds would be 1,891.6. Capital highlights include $5 million of general-fund funding to begin Pier 60 repairs related to recent storms, airport apron and master-plan work supported by FDOT grants, and a $2.7 million proposed replacement of the Clearwater Golf Course bridge using short-term financing pending contract negotiations.

Council members praised staff for the work and said they were sensitive to the FTE reductions while supporting the balanced approach. The council voted to set two public hearings so the county can include the details in TRIM notices to property owners. Staff said the proposed budget and an interactive digital budget tool are available on the city website.

The vote to set the tentative millage and to schedule the hearings was unanimous.