Temple Terrace releases draft FY26 general fund budget with no millage increase, consolidations and proposed consumer credit‑card fee

City Manager Carlos presented the City of Temple Terrace’s draft fiscal year 2026 general fund budget to the City Council, saying the proposal includes no increase in the millage rate and no new full‑time general‑fund positions.

Carlos, city manager, told the council the draft carries a 4% cost‑of‑living adjustment for general employees effective Oct. 1 and a 2% merit budget, and that police and fire contract terms include larger COLAs and step increases. “There is also no increase in millage proposed from this general fund budget,” Carlos said.

Why this matters: the general fund supports public safety and core city services. Carlos said the draft assumes preliminary 2025 taxable‑value growth of 3.43%, which would generate roughly $19,572,378 in ad valorem revenue, and warned that public safety personnel and retirement costs alone are budgeted at about $23,216,340 in personnel costs for FY26.

Key elements and assumptions

- Revenues and timing: Staff said the county property appraiser will submit final taxable values by July 1; the council will review a fuller budget at an omnibus workshop July 8 and a special meeting to set the millage rate is scheduled for July 17. Carlos said the June 20 workshop will cover capital and…