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Venice adopts FY2026 budget and final tax levy; council sets 3.845-mill operating rate
Summary
The Venice City Council approved changes to the fiscal year 2025–26 budget, set the operating millage at the rolled-back rate of 3.845 mills and adopted the FY2026 budget ordinance. Two separate votes produced a 6–1 tally on the tax levy ordinance and a unanimous vote on the budget ordinance.
The Venice City Council approved changes to the fiscal year 2025–26 budget and adopted ordinances setting the city's final tax levy and official budget. The council approved a change that reduces the operating millage to the rolled-back rate of 3.845 mills, reducing budgeted general-fund revenue by $419,000; the ordinance adopting the final levy passed 6-1. The ordinance adopting the official FY2026 budget passed unanimously.
Finance Director Linda Seni told the council the only change since the Sept. 9 budget public hearing was to "reduce the millage from 3.9041 to the rollback rate of 3.845 mills," and she said that change decreases budgeted general-fund revenue by $419,000. The taxing-authority statement read at the public hearing shows the operating millage to be levied is 3.845 mills and the voted debt-service millage is 0.3405 mills.
The council first voted to approve the changes to the proposed FY2026 budget (the motion was moved by Council Member Frank and seconded by Council Member Howard). The clerk displayed the vote as passing 6 to 1. Later, the council voted 6-1 to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-31, "adopting the final levying of ad valorem taxes for the City of Venice for fiscal year 2025-26." During discussion on Ordinance 2025-31, Council Member Ingle King said he would vote no, stating that he believed "the rollback is not in the best interest of the city this year and subsequent years" and that "taking the $419,000 and adding it to our deficit spending is the reason why I'm saying no." The clerk's tally for that ordinance was recorded as 6-1.
The council then considered and adopted Ordinance No. 2025-32, approving and adopting the official budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2025, and ending Sept. 30, 2026. That ordinance specifies that disbursements shall not exceed fund budgets without council approval and grants the city manager authority to make certain departmental transfers within approved fund budgets. The vote on Ordinance No. 2025-32 passed unanimously.
There were no written communications and no members of the public signed up to speak on the tax levy or the budget at the public hearings. Following the unanimous adoption of the FY2026 budget ordinance, the council adjourned.
Votes at a glance
- Motion: "Approve changes to the fiscal year 2026 budget since the 09/09/2025 budget public hearing." Mover: Miss Frank. Second: Mister Howard. Outcome: passed; tally displayed 6 yes, 1 no (individual no vote not specified in the transcript for this motion).
- Ordinance No. 2025-31: "An ordinance of the City of Venice, Sarasota County, Florida adopting the final levying of ad valorem taxes for the City of Venice for fiscal year 2025-26." Mover: Mister Howard. Second: Miss Frank. Outcome: approved 6-1. Council Member Ingle King stated he would vote no and gave his reasons.
- Ordinance No. 2025-32: "An ordinance approving and adopting the official budget of the City of Venice, Florida for the fiscal year beginning 10/01/2025 and ending 09/30/2026." Mover: Mister Howard. Second: (second recorded). Outcome: approved unanimously (vote displayed as unanimous).
