Venice council approves rollback millage rate on first reading after heated debate, 5–2

Venice — The City of Venice City Council voted 5–2 on first reading to approve Ordinance 2025-31, setting the city—s final operating millage at 3.845 mills, the rollback rate, and scheduling the ordinance for final reading.

The rollback rate is the millage that would collect the same total property-tax revenue as last year using this year—s property valuations. At the start of the hearing the clerk said the tentative operating millage that was set earlier this year was 3.9041 mills and that this year—s tentative rate represented 1.54% more than the rollback rate; the voted debt-service millage was read as 0.3405 mills.

Two residents spoke during the public hearing urging the council not to roll back the millage. "I hope that you will vote for what I believe is in the best interest of the City of Venice, and do not do a rollback," said Kit McKeon, a former council member. Former councilman Bill Wilson also urged the council to maintain the current tax burden, saying, "I respectfully ask you not to roll back our tax rate."

Council debate focused on competing priorities: several council members argued the rollback was a modest, symbolic return of taxpayer dollars and pointed to large reserve balances and recent infrastructure spending. Councilmember Smith said the rollback was a responsible adjustment and noted that many property owners are protected by the state—s Save Our Homes cap. "These are all things that we wanted to save for and want to spend on," Smith said, arguing the $5,000,000 reserve drawdown for the Wellfield Park project was an intended use of savings rather than an unplanned depletion.

Opponents said the city faces revenue headwinds and should preserve reserves for future uncertainty. Vice Mayor Boldt and other dissenting members warned of declining home values, falling permit revenue and potential state-level property-tax changes that could reduce local flexibility. Boldt argued the council should not reduce revenue now because replacement options could be limited in coming years.

The motion to approve Ordinance 2025-31 with a final operating millage of 3.845 mills was moved by Councilmember Frank and seconded (second not specified in the record). The electronic tally displayed "Passes 5 to 2." The motion schedules the ordinance for final reading.

Clarifying details recorded in the hearing included: the tentative millage set previously (3.9041 mills), the rollback rate (3.845 mills), an estimated taxpayer saving of about $40$45 per household if rolled back (speakers cited a figure of roughly $40.45), a planned $5,000,000 use of reserves for the Wellfield Park project, and staff statements that general-fund operating expenses (excluding the Wellfield amount) rose about 4.1% year over year and operating-only increases were about 3.3%.

Next steps: the ordinance was scheduled for final reading, at which time staff indicated the budget ordinance would be adjusted to correspond with the approved millage rate.