Charlotte County adopts FY 2026 combined county and school budget, lowers real estate tax rate
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Summary
The board adopted a $73.09 million combined budget for FY2026, adjusted tax rates including a real estate rate of $0.41, approved appropriations and an ordinance authorizing a one-time bonus for full-time employees.
The Charlotte County Board of Supervisors adopted the FY 2026 combined county and school budget and related tax levies at its June meeting. The board approved a budget totaling $73,090,444 and set the real estate tax rate at $0.41 per $100 of assessed value.
County finance staff presented the advertised budget and explained the document includes prior-year actuals, the current-year adopted numbers, expenditures through May 31 and the proposed FY 2026 figures. The presentation noted the combined budget amount and line-item detail available in the public packet.
Finance staff said the real estate tax rate was reduced from the prior rate of $0.62 per $100 after reassessments; other levies include a personal property tax of $3.46 per $100 and a machinery and tools tax of $3.00 per $100. The vehicle license registration fee remains $25 per vehicle. The board adopted the tax levies and the appropriations for county and school funds by motion and voice vote.
During public comment, Terry Ramsey of Charlotte Courthouse urged the board to clarify whether an amount listed as $2,550,000 from the general fund balance had already been transferred or remained available. Ramsey said a fuller fiscal-year projection for FY 2025 is necessary for budgeting decisions and noted the county's adjusted fund balance ratio had reached 30.6% of operating expenses, above the county policy minimum of 25%.
The board also adopted an ordinance to authorize a one-time bonus for full-time employees. Staff clarified the bonus takes effect on 2025-06-30 and that the 1% bonus is computed on current salaries (not including a July 1 cost-of-living adjustment). The ordinance adoption required and received a roll-call-style vote recorded in the meeting.
All four budget-related action items were approved by the board during the meeting. The board was told finalized FY 2025 revenues and expenses will be confirmed in the annual audit and presented January 1.