The Milton City Council voted unanimously on July 1 to advertise a proposed FY2026 city millage rate of 4.118 mills, a procedural step required by Florida’s Truth in Millage timetable that sets the maximum rate the council may later lower but not increase.

Councilman Brian McKee moved to advertise the 4.118-mill maximum and Councilman Chris Powers seconded the motion; the council approved it unanimously by the members present. City staff explained the advertised figure is the cap for public-notice purposes; the council may adopt a lower millage rate at the public hearings and at the final budget vote in September. Budget staff said the property-appraiser/vendor deadline for the Truth in Millage materials requires the advertised rate to be certified to the county by mid- to late July.

Why it matters: Staff and council framed the advertisement as a way to protect the city’s fiscal flexibility while still delivering a potential tax cut for homeowners when compared with the net county rate change that will occur later this year. Budget director Laura MacDill walked the council through scenarios showing how different millage choices would affect the budget and the amount of reserves that would be needed to balance the plan.

Staff provided an illustrative calculation: one staff example used an average home value of about $283,000 and showed that one full mill of tax represents roughly $300 on that example property; staff emphasized the translation to a taxpayer depends on assessed value and exemptions and that the truth-in-millage notice will show the maximum amount advertised.

Council and staff also discussed the interaction with the county’s change to its millage and the community redevelopment area (CRA). Staff noted the county’s planned reduction of its CRA contribution will lower county funding for Milton’s CRA projects; advertising an increased city millage portion creates additional city CRA revenue to partially offset the county reduction. The council and staff emphasized the advertisement itself does not increase a taxpayer’s liability — it establishes the legal maximum that will be publicly noticed.

Public comment: A Milton resident, David Farrow, spoke in favor of the approach, urging council to present the numbers clearly so residents understand that the advertised millage cap can still result in a lower tax bill than prior years once the county changes are accounted for.

Next steps: After the advertising deadline, the council will hold two budget hearings — staff cited September 11 and September 23 as the tentative public hearing dates — and then adopt a final FY2026 millage and budget at the scheduled hearings in September. The council may set the final adopted rate below the advertised 4.118-mill maximum but cannot exceed that advertised number without repeating the required advertising process.

Ending: The vote completes the city’s statutory advertising step; staff will present the full budget, any ordinance or fee changes and final millage recommendations at the September hearings.