Vero Beach council adopts 2.9816-mill tax rate and approves $36 million budget; staffing debates continue

The Vero Beach City Council on a 5-0 vote approved a fiscal-year 2025-26 operating millage rate of 2.9816 mills and adopted the city’s $36,000,000 operating budget, council members said at a special meeting where staff and residents discussed staffing priorities and budget timing.

City Manager Monty thanked finance staff for preparing the budget under compressed timelines and said the document was presented with a “not to exceed” millage rate of 2.9816. Finance Director Lisa Burnham and Comptroller Kathy Taub were specifically commended for completing work needed to submit audit materials and prepare the final budget, Monty said.

The budget, as adopted, is balanced at the 2.9816 millage and proposes seven new positions citywide: three positions in the police department (two CPU officers and one airport officer funded from airport funds), three positions in public works (one each in streets, grounds maintenance and facilities) and one airport operations specialist, Monty said. Of the roughly $36 million budget, the manager said $114,000 is in unappropriated surplus.

Why it matters: The adopted millage of 2.9816 mills exceeds the rollback rate of 2.5935 mills by 14.966%, meaning the council set the maximum rate it could approve at this hearing and moved forward with a budget that contains new personnel and limited contingency. Changes to staffing later in the year would require council action or a budget amendment.

Discussion and staff direction: Councilmembers debated whether to include a crime analyst position now or to authorize it as a placeholder to be filled later. Monty told the council, “The crime analyst is not included in what we have presented.” Councilmember Voss and others argued the crime analyst had been a high-priority position and could be phased in using hiring lag; other members said they were reluctant to commit next year’s funds amid uncertain property values. Ultimately councilmembers said they are authorizing the position as a placeholder and directed the city manager, police chief and finance director to use quarterly financial reports and hiring-lag projections to determine whether and when to activate the position during the fiscal year.

Several residents addressed staffing in public comment. Ken Dague, who identified himself as a city resident, urged the council to schedule a “checkup” several months into the fiscal year to revisit positions such as a code enforcement officer and the crime analyst. A resident asked whether the three new police positions were included; Vice Mayor Moore confirmed two CPU officers and one airport officer are in the adopted budget and that the two CPUs will add evening coverage.

Ordinances and votes at the meeting: Councilmember motion and second were recorded on the dais; roll-call votes show Councilmember Voss, Councilmember Dingell, Councilmember Carroll, Vice Mayor Moore and Mayor Catugno voting yes on both the millage ordinance first reading and the budget adoption ordinance, each passing 5-0.

The council directed staff to return with quarterly financial reports and to place a discussion of staffing and the approved placeholders on a future agenda if revenue or hiring conditions change.

Members and staff quoted or recorded in the meeting: City Manager Monty; Finance Director Lisa Burnham; Comptroller Kathy Taub; Mayor Catugno; Vice Mayor Moore; Councilmember Voss; Councilmember Dingell; Councilmember Carroll; resident Ken Dague.

Outlook: The council scheduled the final adoption of the budget for Sept. 16, and councilmembers said they expect quarterly reporting and a finance commission meeting that will provide more clarity on budget-to-actual performance before additional hires are authorized.