St. Lucie County adopts tentative FY2025–26 millage and budget; board directs $1 million cut before final hearing

The St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 4 adopted tentative millage rates for the 2025–26 fiscal year and approved a tentative $913 million budget while directing staff to identify a $1 million reduction to lower the millage before the final hearing on Sept. 18.

County staff told the board the tentative aggregate millage rate for FY2025–26 is 8.0219 mills, a 7.17% decrease from the current aggregate rate but a 5.45% increase relative to the aggregate rollback rate of 7.6071 mills. Individual tentative millage components presented included a general fund rate of 4.2222 mills, a fine-and-forfeiture rate of 2.7294 mills and several MSTU and special rates (for example, a law enforcement MSTU of 0.8403 mills and a transit MSTU of 0.25 mills). The county-wide tentative budget presented totaled approximately $913.09 million.

Why it matters: The tentative millage and budget set the framework for the county’s spending plan; the board can lower but not raise these tentative rates before final adoption. Commissioners said they wanted to continue lowering the millage where possible while preserving funding for public safety and mandated services.

Budget balance and recent audit adjustments

Jennifer Hill of the Office of Management and Budget explained recent fund-balance detail referenced during public comment. Hill said the audited beginning fund balance for the general fund was $112,959,020—about $20.8 million higher than the adopted estimate—but that most of that difference was restricted. She said roughly $8 million was restricted for grants and programs, about $8.9 million was earmarked for capital projects carried into the new fiscal year, leaving about $3.9 million that was truly unrestricted. That $3.9 million, Hill said, was already placed into reserves earlier in the year and some reserve uses—about $21.7 million—have since occurred, including an advance for purchase of 881 U.S. 1 and Hurricane Milton recovery expenses.

Hill cautioned that although audited numbers showed an apparent windfall, only a small portion was unrestricted and available to return to taxpayers, and some of the apparent funds have already been spent or committed. She also noted that federal and state disaster reimbursements (FEMA) can take time to recover and that staff would identify further avenues to reduce the millage before the final hearing.

Board priorities and allocations

Staff summarized the budget priorities the board had used in preparing the recommended budget: infrastructure and roads, facility and operational efficiency, environmental protection, economic development and transit, housing affordability and workforce housing, air and seaport development, tourism, fiscal responsibility and public safety. The budget includes dedicated amounts for resurfacing and specific road projects (for example, $6.5 million for road resurfacing, $2 million for Old Dixie Highway, $6 million for Selvitz Road improvements, $3.5 million for Glades Cutoff widening), funding for airport and seaport readiness, and continuing housing programs to leverage state funding and support a housing hub and rental assistance programs.

Staff identified approximately $29.5 million in incremental revenue in the general fund and fine-and-forfeiture fund. After mandated allocations to outside agencies, constitutional officers and other commitments, staff said about $87.77 million remained for BOCC operations; that sum included funding increases for the sheriff and other constitutional officers. The staff presentation noted the county’s tentative budget included funding for an asset-management system, ERP replacement, capital maintenance and a future county campus.

Public safety and sheriff’s request

Sheriff Rich Del Toro addressed the board during public comment and thanked commissioners for funding increases in the sheriff’s office budget. Del Toro described a large budget request driven largely by salaries and benefits—he said about 82% of the sheriff’s office budget is for employees—and said the recurring funds the board provided would be used to correct pay steps and improve recruiting and retention. ‘‘I welcome the accountability and . . . I’m very committed to transparency,’’ Del Toro said, adding he would provide monthly expense reports and quarterly public updates about results.

Public comment on property taxes

Several residents spoke about sharp increases in individual property tax bills after recent reassessments and ownership changes. Ed Fry asked the board to direct staff to reduce the general-fund millage by 0.1 mill and return more to taxpayers. Maureen Kennedy described a near-$900 annual jump in her bill over two years and asked why her new, smaller house carried a higher tax than a larger neighboring house. Kurt Ferguson said his family’s bill rose from about $4,200 to more than $12,000 after a title change following a relative’s death and asked how to challenge the valuation.

County officials and commissioners urged those residents to meet privately with Property Appraiser staff present in the hallway and noted that exemptions and changes in ownership can remove previously accumulated exemptions; staff directed residents to the Property Appraiser and the Value Adjustment Board process for appeals.

Votes at a glance

- Tentative millage rates: Board approved resolution to set tentative millage rates (aggregate 8.0219 mils presented) by roll call; outcome: approved (Commissioners Lee, Clasby, Lowry, Townsend and Chair Fowler voted yes). Motion details: tentative adoption with direction to staff to pursue a $1 million reduction to lower the millage further before the Sept. 18 final hearing.

- Boys & Girls Club allocation: The board voted separately on inclusion of the $150,000 recommended allocation to the Boys & Girls Club so Chair Fowler could recuse herself from that specific vote. Outcome: approved (Commissioner Clasby voted no; Commissioners Townsend, Lowry and Lee voted yes; Chair Fowler recused).

- Tentative budget by fund (FY2025–26): The board approved the tentative budget by fund totaling roughly $913.09 million, with the same caveat that staff return with a $1 million reduction for the final hearing. Outcome: approved (Commissioner Clasby voted no; Commissioners Townsend, Lowry and Lee and Chair Fowler voted yes).

What’s next

The board set the final budget hearing for Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at 6 p.m. in the commission chambers. Staff will recalculate the final tentative numbers if the board’s direction to reduce the budget by $1 million is adopted and will present the adjusted figures at that session. The Property Appraiser’s staff remained available to meet with residents about individual tax notices.

Ending note

Commissioners said they plan continued scrutiny of departmental budgets and urged staff to identify efficiencies and productivity gains so future millage reductions can be sustained while protecting public safety funding. Sheriff Del Toro said he would provide monthly expense reports and quarterly public updates on spending and outcomes.