Clay County sets tentative FY 2025–26 millage, adopts tentative $780.6 million budget; final hearing set for Sept. 23

The Clay County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 9 adopted tentative millage rates and a tentative budget for fiscal year 2025–26, approving an aggregate operating millage of 8.5854 mills and a tentative county budget of $780,630,570.

The board voted unanimously (5–0) to set the tentative millage, to adopt the tentative budgets for the county (including the Lake Asbury special district) and to designate Clay Behavioral Health Center, Inc., as the recipient of $350,000 from the county’s alcohol and other drug abuse trust fund for the coming fiscal year. The board also set the final public hearing on the millage and budget for 5:05 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, in the commissioners’ chambers.

Troy (budget staff) told commissioners the budget balances as required by Florida statute and emphasized the county’s operating and capital breakdowns. He said the county’s overall budget document totals roughly $780.6 million and, excluding reserves and transfers, the working budget is about $547.2 million. Ad valorem revenue is projected at about $171 million.

The tentative operating millage of 8.5854 mills compares with the county’s rolled-back rate of 7.958 mills; county staff presented that difference as a 7.88% increase over the rollback rate. The levy includes the voter-approved 0.2 mills for the Conservation Lands Program and a series of municipal service taxing units (MSTUs) for law enforcement, fire control and unincorporated services.

In his presentation Troy and county staff walked commissioners through the budget’s components: operating funds (general fund, public safety, transportation trust), capital and restricted funds. Troy said the general fund is approximately $89 million and that roughly $59 million of that is discretionary spending under direct board control after statutory obligations and restricted items are set aside. He reported $22 million-plus in general fund reserves and reminded commissioners the county seeks to meet recommended reserve targets.

Commissioners questioned program-by-program impacts, including a roughly 24% reduction in construction, facilities and maintenance and a similar reduction in some quality-of-life line items year-over-year. Commissioners and staff repeatedly framed the adopted figures as “tentative” pending final adjustments and the second public hearing.

The board took the following formal actions during the hearing: - Adopted the tentative millage rates for fiscal year 2025–26 (motion passed 5–0). - Adopted the tentative budget for fiscal year 2025–26 totaling $780,630,570, inclusive of the Lake Asbury special district (motion passed 5–0). - Designated Clay Behavioral Health Center, Inc., as the alcohol and other drug abuse trust fund recipient and authorized negotiating a $350,000 contract for those services (motion passed 5–0). - Set the second and final public hearing on the millage and budget for 5:05 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the board chambers (motion passed 5–0).

County staff said final adoption will follow the Sept. 23 hearing and that advertising of the required summary and notice of final hearing would proceed as authorized by the board.

Why it matters: County budgets determine local taxes, service levels for public safety and maintenance, and capital investments such as roads and buildings. Commissioners and staff flagged trade-offs in maintenance and quality-of-life spending as short-term choices the board may revisit during final adoption.

What’s next: The board will hold the final millage-and-budget hearing Sept. 23; staff said updated revenue and expense figures will be available between now and that meeting.