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DeLand commission to advertise proposed millage; staff urged to seek reductions before final hearing
Summary
Commissioners heard finance staff explanation of millage options and signaled support for advertising the current proposed rate (6.2841 mills) with an expectation staff will seek reductions before final adoption; rollback rate would create an estimated budget shortfall.
City finance staff and the commission discussed the property tax (millage) advertisement needed to set the Truth‑in‑Millage schedule. Finance staff explained options and the budget implications of each choice, and commissioners offered preferences about what number to advertise to the public.
Key takeaways
- Proposed and rollback rates: Staff said the proposed budget is based on the current fiscal year millage and indicated that the current effective rate to use for advertisement is 6.2841 mills. Staff also explained a rollback‑rate scenario (using current assessed values) would be roughly 6.0358 mills and would create an estimated $868,000 deficit in the proposed budget.
- Advertising rules and flexibility: City staff reminded the commission that the advertised millage can be lowered later but that raising an advertised rate later is difficult; staff encouraged advertising a number that preserves the balanced budget while leaving room to reduce the rate once more complete state revenue and property value information is available.
- Commissioners’ positions: Several commissioners said they prefer to advertise the current proposed rate to preserve budget balance while directing staff to seek reductions before the September public hearings. One commissioner said they would prefer to advertise 0.1 mill lower if staff can find reductions, but acknowledged the practical benefit of advertising the rate that balances the budget now and then reducing it if possible.
Why it matters: the advertised millage determines what taxpayers see in public notices and starts the Truth‑in‑Millage process; it also locks the starting point for public hearings and constrains how the city can present potential reductions or increases later in the cycle.
Next steps
Staff will advertise the proposed millage rate consistent with the budget presentation (6.2841 mills) and continue reviewing revenues and expenditures with the stated objective of reducing the advertised rate before final adoption if feasible. No final millage adoption occurred at this workshop; the commission will set the millage at the upcoming required hearings.
