Brooksville council tentatively sets FY2026 millage at 6.5 mills, adopts tentative budget

The City of Brooksville on the first public budget hearing set a tentative ad valorem millage rate of 6.5 mills for fiscal year 2026 and adopted a tentative budget balanced at that rate.

The city clerk read the advertised notice that the proposed rate of 6.5 mills is a 13.23% increase over the current rollback rate of 5.7407 mills. The tentative budget presented to the council balances revenue and expenditures using that 6.5-mill rate, city staff said.

Why it matters: The millage rate determines property tax revenue available to the city. Councilors debated whether to set a lower tentative rate now and leave room to reduce spending, or to set 6.5 mills to avoid dipping into reserves and to fund a new capital improvement program (CIP) and other immediate needs.

City staff and council provided numbers during the hearing. The council was told the draft budget includes $1,500,000 in department budget cuts, an approved fire assessment to help fund the fire department, and an estimated $299,000 reduction in the sheriff's contract for FY2025–26. The budget preserves a minimum reserve of approximately $2,600,000 and establishes a startup allocation of about $480,000 for a CIP, staff said. The general-fund allocation for roads in the draft budget is $600,000 a year; staff said that typically funds work on roughly five or six streets annually depending on length and condition.

Finance staff summarized how different millage choices would change reserves and CIP funding. The finance director said of two examples, “At a 6.25 millage, the estimates that our finance department has provided… estimated reserves [would be] $2,400,000 and estimated CIP $290,000. If we stayed with a 6.5 millage, estimated reserves [are] $2,600,000 and estimated CIP $487,000.”

Council debate and votes: Council members debated a motion to set the tentative millage at 6.2 mills, with proponents urging additional spending cuts or outsourcing options and opponents saying 6.5 was necessary to restore the city’s long-term financial footing. Mayor Tanner framed the motion that eventually passed: “We are tentatively setting the millage tonight at 6.5.” The council adopted the tentative millage by roll call vote, 5–0. On the separate motion to accept the tentative budget as presented, the council approved the budget 4–1.

Public input and staff responses: During the public comment period residents asked about utilities, stormwater charges, recycling and ARPA spending. Donna Moore, a Brooksville resident, asked, “Are utilities going to be going up? How much is stormwater going to cost the taxpayers? Who will this affect…?” City staff said the city itself does not pay the county for stormwater; residents pay an MSTU to Hernando County that the city does not collect. Staff estimated the MSTU brings in roughly $81,000–$86,000 annually. Staff also said the city will propose a 3% increase in water, sewer and sanitation rates at a future meeting, noting that proposal follows the consumer price index and is subject to council approval. On ARPA spending for the fire department, staff later said the city used ARPA funds to replace the fire department roof at a cost of $19,900. On recycling, staff said 1,040 of 3,789 active utility accounts participate in curbside recycling; the city does not charge for recycling nor is it charged to dump that material.

Next steps: The council also held first reading of Ordinance 1003, the ordinance appropriating monies for FY2026; the ordinance was accepted on first reading and will receive final consideration at the next meeting. The final millage and budget are scheduled to be set at the city’s next budget hearing on Sept. 15, 2025, at 6 p.m., when councilors said they expect to review CIP priorities and potential alternatives.

Votes at a glance: Tentative millage resolution (Resolution 2025-18) — adopted by roll call 5–0. Motion to accept the tentative budget as presented — adopted 4–1. First reading of Ordinance 1003 (tentative appropriations) — accepted 4–1 and scheduled for final reading on Sept. 15, 2025.