Sumter County adopts $361.86 million FY2025-26 budget; holds general millage at 4.89 mills, approves fire MSTU rates

Sumter County Commissioners on Sept. 30 adopted a $361,859,873 final budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and approved a package of millage rates, including a general fund rate of 4.89 mills and a Sumter County Fire and EMS municipal service taxing unit (MSTU) rate of 0.8571, during a final budget hearing at the Everly Regional Recreation Center in The Villages.

County Administrator Mr. Arnold summarized the final budget and the changes since the tentative hearing, saying the figure "is now $361,859,873" and noting that the decrease from the current fiscal year largely reflects one-time capital revenues and expenditures completed in 2024–25, including a new supervisor of elections office, ARPA-funded sewer projects and other projects.

The budget preserves the county's historic general fund millage of 4.89 mills. Mr. Arnold noted that holding 4.89 mills is higher than the calculated rollback rate of 4.6684 mills and therefore legally constitutes a tax increase relative to the rollback rate; the county reported…