Hernando County commissioners approve tentative FY26 budget and set millage; direct staff to seek further cuts

The Hernando County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 11 adopted tentative millage rates below state rollbacks and approved a tentative fiscal year 2026 budget of $993,180,713, and set a final public hearing for Sept. 23. The vote to adopt the tentative budget and the vote earlier to set the millage each passed 5-0.

The board’s actions followed hours of presentations by county budget staff and debate among commissioners over reserve levels, proposed capital projects and requests from constitutional officers. Albert Bertram, the county’s budget presenter, summarized the revised figures at the end of the hearing: “The updated tentative budget is now $993,180,713,” he said as he read the recomputed millage and reserve figures.

Why this matters: Commissioners approved recommended millage rates that collectively sit under the state-computed rollback figures, producing a modest tax relief compared with the maximum allowable rates while leaving the county short of its 25% general-fund reserve policy. Some commissioners pressed for additional operating cuts and for constitutional officers to propose reductions before the final adoption; others warned that too-large cuts would reduce public-safety staffing and services.

Most important facts

- Tentative budget adopted: $993,180,713 (all funds). General fund portion reported during the hearing: $245,710,323. - Millage: The board approved recommended millage rates that are lower than the state rollback calculations. The recommended total county millage presented at the hearing was 7.8275 (rollback 8.0238). - Reserves: After the adjustments approved during the hearing, county staff reported the general-fund reserve ratio at about 21.37% under the tentative budget figures; staff and commissioners discussed options to raise that toward the board’s 25% policy before final adoption. - Next step: Final public hearing and adoption set for Tuesday, Sept. 23, 5:01 p.m.

What commissioners debated

Debate centered on how to close the gap between the county’s current reserve level and the 25% target in the board’s policy. County Administrator Rogers and budget staff walked commissioners through late additions and carry-forwards that affected reserves — including a suggested rebudgeting of a $2,000,000 line originally identified for sheriff’s office property acquisition and a proposed $900,000 postponement of a government center roof project. Commissioners discussed placing some project dollars back into reserves, delaying projects, or asking constitutional officers and departments to identify operating reductions.

Commissioner Steve Champion and others argued for a concrete step to give tax relief to property owners: the board voted to reduce the general-fund footprint (and reflect that in recomputed millage) so that the tentative millage is below rollback levels. At the same time, several commissioners — including Commissioner Randy Campbell — pressed for deeper, recurring operating cuts rather than relying on reserves or one-time adjustments.

Public-safety and constitutional budgets

The sheriff’s office budget and planned capital needs (including a previously discussed land acquisition and other public-safety projects) were a major focus of discussion. Commissioners said they were reluctant to impose across-the-board operating cuts that would force the sheriff to reduce deputy staffing or limit core services. Several commissioners asked the sheriff’s office and other constitutional officers to return to the board with specific proposals for cuts or efficiencies before the final budget adoption.

Capital and project items discussed

During the workshop and hearing staff and commissioners flagged several capital items and near-term change orders that affected the tentative numbers: a Veterans Park parking and access project (approximately $338,360 quoted on a recent change-order request), an Emergency Operations Center roof replacement (about $290,000 discussed), a government-center roof replacement proposed to be moved to the next year (about $900,000), and a small tower/demolition allowance (budgeted at $50,000). The board agreed to rebudget the $2,000,000 sheriff’s office land line back into reserves pending further direction.

FEMA reimbursements and disaster funds

County emergency-management staff updated the board on FEMA Public Assistance work related to recent storms. Erin Thomas, Hernando County emergency management director, told the board the county has captured roughly $3,038,974.52 in documented costs submitted to FEMA for one event stream and that permanent-work submissions are about 25% complete for other projects. The county has received about $7.1 million to date and has additional projects under review; staff cautioned that FEMA public-assistance reimbursement can take years to resolve.

Quotes

Albert Bertram, budget presenter: “The updated tentative budget is now $993,180,713.”

Erin Thomas, emergency management director: “For Hurricane Helene, we have captured $3,038,974.52 in total project reimbursement claim.”

What the votes did and did not do

- The board set tentative millage rates (recommended rates below the state rollback figures) and approved those rates by a 5-0 vote earlier in the meeting. - The board adopted the tentative FY2026 budget of $993,180,713 (5-0) and set the final public hearing for Sept. 23, 5:01 p.m. (5-0). - Commissioners also directed staff to continue seeking operating reductions and to bring back options for raising the general-fund reserve closer to the 25% target before final adoption.

Context and next steps

This first public hearing is part of Florida’s required TRIM/notice process. The board must adopt a tentative budget and recompute millage before setting a final hearing. Staff will recalculate and publish the official TRIM figures and bring back any revised operating-cut proposals, specific constitutional-officer responses and final reserve calculations at the Sept. 23 final public hearing. If the board does not reach the 25% policy target in its final vote, commissioners discussed contingency options — delaying capital projects, rebudgeting certain items, or identifying further operating reductions.

Ending

Commissioners closed the session after public comment and administrative wrap-up; staff will present updated numbers at the final public hearing on Sept. 23 and work with constitutional officers and department heads to identify additional options for lowering recurring costs or increasing dedicated funding streams prior to final adoption.