City of Clearwater staff recommended the city keep its proposed millage rate at 0.97 mills for fiscal year 2025–26 and set two required public hearings for Sept. 3 and Sept. 17, both at 5:15 p.m., to adopt the tentative millage and budget.

The recommendation came from Jesus Nino, identified in the meeting as executive director for the CRE department. He told the Downtown Development Board the schedule and hearing requirements derive from Florida’s Truth in Millage (TRIM) rules and Chapter 200 of the Florida Statutes, which require taxing authorities to hold hearings on proposed millage and tentative budgets within 65 days of the certification of taxable value.

“Staff is recommending a proposed millage rate of 0.97 mills for fiscal year 2025–26, which is also the current millage rate and has been the current millage rate for years now,” Nino said, explaining staff’s compliance work with the city budget office and the Florida Department of Revenue on legal advertising and schedule timing.

Board members voted to approve the motion to set the proposed rate and hearing dates; the vote was recorded as unanimous.

The hearings will be held in the council chambers and will give residents the opportunity to comment on the tentative budget and millage before the council adopts a final budget later in the fall.

For residents who want to follow the timeline: the two hearings are the formal opportunities under state law to hear public comment before the city adopts a final millage and budget.