Sarasota commissioners adopt tentative $2.52 billion FY2026 budget, set millage and assessment rates; one commissioner dissents

Sarasota — The Sarasota Board of County Commissioners adopted proposed millage rates, certified non‑ad valorem assessment rolls and approved a tentative fiscal year 2026 budget totaling $2,524,495,075 at a public hearing on Sept. 10 at 1660 Ringling Boulevard.

The actions included adoption of the countywide millage rate of 3.3842 mills and an aggregate proposed millage of 3.8512 mills (a 3.35% increase over the aggregate rollback rate). The board also approved the fiscal year 2026 annual stormwater service assessment (Resolution No. 2025‑157), fire and rescue district rate settings (Resolution No. 2025‑158) and certification of non‑ad valorem assessments (Resolution No. 2025‑159). The tentative budget resolution (Resolution No. 2025‑161) passed with a 4–1 vote; Commissioner Knight registered the lone dissent.

The budget and rate decisions matter because they set the county’s revenue assumptions and service funding for the coming year and determine what taxpayers see on property tax notices. Kim Radke, who presented the tentative budget figures, said the countywide millage of 3.3842 mills is 0.0014 mills lower than FY2025, driven by a small reduction in the debt millage for the Legacy Trail extension. The tentative FY2026 budget is split into the Section 1 total of $2,003,687,394 and a Section 2 total of $520,807,681, for an aggregate tentative budget of $2,524,495,075.

Commissioners and staff emphasized that the stormwater assessment in the adopted…