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County finance staff outline budget process and timeline ahead of FY26 work
Summary
Flagler County finance staff reviewed roles, timelines and decision rules for the FY26 budget process, emphasizing the board’s policy role, the county administrator’s budget‑officer duties under Chapter 129, Florida Statutes, and the county’s preference for a flat or reduced millage approach.
Brian Eginger, director of financial services, briefed the Board on the county’s budget process on March 3, outlining staff responsibilities, department‑level decision units and the schedule for workshops and public hearings. "The county administrator is the budget officer," Eginger said, citing the statutory budget‑officer role and the department’s work to compile line‑item detail and decision unit requests from departments.
Why it matters: The presentation framed near‑term decisions — including potential allocations for beach management and other capital needs — inside the formal schedule for the tentative and adopted FY26 budget. Staff emphasized the board’s policy role (setting priorities and millage guidance) and the administrator’s role in balancing department requests with fiscal constraints.
Key details: Eginger reviewed the timeline: December–January for board policy guidance; March for departmental submissions and OMB review; June–August for workshops and tentative budget presentation; and September public hearings and final adoption. He said staff typically starts fiscal forecasting conservatively and that the county has historically targeted flat or reduced millage guidance from the board. "If the direction of the board was to shoot for rollback then that's where we would start," Eginger said.
Commissioners discussed the treatment of one‑time versus recurring expenditures, historical trend data in departmental pages and timing of revenue forecasts tied to the property appraiser’s valuation roll. Eginger said OMB compiles historical data, encumbrances and personnel costs and that departments must justify decision units. County Administrator Heidi Petito told the Board staff will present more detailed budget breakdowns in scheduled workshops and one‑on‑one meetings.
Ending: No formal action was taken at the workshop; staff will continue budget development using board guidance and return with proposed tentative budgets and workshops over the spring and summer.
