Charlotte County adopts tentative FY 2026 budget, lowers some millage and MSBU rates and sets $25M disaster retention reserve

The Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday approved tentative fiscal year 2026 countywide millage and budgets, reduced several municipal service benefit unit (MSBU) rates and moved $25 million from fiscal stabilization into a restricted disaster retention reserve for unreimbursed storm expenses.

The actions, taken during the board’s public hearing on the proposed FY 2026 budget package, included adopting a tentative countywide millage rate that sets the county portion at 6.0394 mills (above the rollback rate of 5.8133 mills) while reducing the overall previously adopted tentative total countywide millage from 11.7759 mills to 11.6998 mills. Commissioners also approved adjusted MSBU rates for Cook and Brown, Gardens of Gulf Cove and the Placita area and adopted tentative budgets for a range of county funds. Most votes passed 4–1, with Commissioner Deutsch dissenting.

Francine, assistant budget director, opened the hearing and summarized the process and the changes since the July tentative presentation, saying: “Tonight is our first of 2 public hearings on the fiscal year 2627 proposed budgets.” She presented revenue changes and explained the revision in ad valorem revenue from an initial year-over-year increase that translated to roughly $21,300,000 down to a revised countywide…