Boca Raton adopts tentative 2025–26 budget, sets millage at 3.6649 mills; keeps $155 fire assessment

The Boca Raton City Council on Monday adopted a tentative budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year, approved proposed millage rates totaling 3.6649 mills and kept the residential fire-assessment fee at $155. The council also approved the city’s six-year capital improvement program (CIP) funding plan and a revised municipal user-fee schedule, with a modification delaying replacement billing for overdue library materials for 30 days after the end of the renewal period.

City officials said the proposed total millage rate — 3.6649 mills, composed of a 3.6476 mills operating rate and a 0.0173 mills debt-service rate — represents a 4.42% increase over the rollback rate of 3.4931 mills computed under state law. The council approved Resolution 130-2025 adopting the proposed millage and Resolution 131-2025 adopting the tentative budget; both measures passed on unanimous 5–0 votes.

Why it matters: The tentative budget and proposed millage set the baseline for property-tax notices and the council’s final budget decisions in September. The council’s action preserves the city’s stated goal of presenting a balanced budget without drawing on reserves while funding planned capital work and routine operations.

OMB Director Sharon McGuire told the council the city produced a balanced proposal "and we were able to reduce some expenditures by about $2,000,000 in the general fund." McGuire said the recommended millage rate is slightly lower than the prior year’s rate and the budget was prepared with attention to the city’s strategic priorities, including community safety, financial soundness, transportation and growth management.

Council members and staff emphasized…