Gadsden County adopts tentative $70.1 million budget, sets tentative millage at 9 mills after public protest

GADSDEN COUNTY, Fla. — The Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 15 adopted a tentative countywide budget of $70,092,617 and set a tentative millage rate of 9.0 mills after a public hearing that drew dozens of residents urging the board to hold the line on property taxes.

The action came after the board and county staff described the county’s budget pressures — higher wages and benefits, rising insurance and workers’ compensation costs, and the end of nonrecurring federal ARPA funding — and residents urged commissioners to adopt the rollback rate of 8.6383 mills instead of a higher rate. The board previously advertised a tentative rate of 9.5 mills; commissioners voted to lower that to 9.0 mills during the hearing.

Why it matters: The tentative millage and budget set the maximum taxes countywide may collect in the 2025–26 fiscal year and begin the legally required notice process leading to the final budget hearing. The vote preserves the county’s ability to fund public safety, roads and other services while leaving room for adjustments before a final adoption on Sept. 30.

Finance director presentation and county numbers

Gadsden County’s finance director, identified in the hearing as Miss Raynack, told commissioners the budget advertised as tentative would require higher operating spending than last year. "This budget that you see on the, on the screen right now ... it is 11.8% more in operating expenditures than last year," Raynack said in the presentation, and explained the increase reflects higher personnel costs, loss of one-time ARPA funds and higher insurance and workers’ compensation premiums. Raynack said property values certified by the property…