St. Augustine commissioners review FY2026 budget; millage held, utility rates rise and city readies Knights of Lights cost detail for county

At a special budget workshop, the St. Augustine City Commission reviewed the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, with staff reporting the millage rate will remain at 7.5 mills and the budget includes a 2.3% request for utility rate increases tied to CPI adjustments.

The budget presenter, Mary Burns, told commissioners "The millage rate stays at 7.5 mills. This results in a $1.7 million net additional ad valorem revenue compared to last year," and she said the rollback rate is 7.3513, with each one-tenth of a mill change reducing city revenue by about $352,998.

Why it matters: The budget outlines how the city will cover personnel costs, capital projects and service levels for police, fire and public works while continuing to use visitor-related revenues — notably parking garage and Visitor Information Center receipts — to fund historic preservation and mobility projects.

Key points

- Revenue and millage: City staff said net ad valorem revenue is roughly $1.7 million higher than last year under the 7.5-mill rate. Staff noted the rollback rate of 7.3513 and provided examples showing a $35 annual tax difference to a homeowner for each…