Palm Beach Gardens council sets millage at 5.0537 mills, adopts budget on first reading

Mayor Tinsley and the Palm Beach Gardens City Council voted 5–0 on Sept. 4 to adopt a proposed operating and total millage rate of 5.0537 mills and to approve Ordinance 11-2025 (first reading), the city’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2025–26.

The council’s action sets the millage rate at the same level as the prior year and approves a budget staff said is built to preserve reserves while accommodating rapid local growth and rising operating costs.

City Finance Administrator Ariane Panzak presented the budget and recommended holding the millage flat. She told the council the city’s total taxable value rose to about $21.7 billion for FY26 (a 9.64% increase year over year), including about $595 million in new construction. Staff said the proposed rate is 6.64% above the rollback rate of 4.7391 and that keeping the rate flat helps preserve reserves to respond to disasters and policy uncertainty.

The budget package before council includes general, special revenue, capital (impact) and internal service funds.…