Orange County manager presents FY 2025–26 budget; commissioners press for cuts, options to limit tax impact

County Manager Travis Mahren presented a recommended fiscal year 2025–26 operating budget to the Orange County Board of Commissioners on May 6, 2025, proposing a modest tax‑rate increase above the revenue‑neutral rate to fund school planning and county operations while preserving core services.

Mahren said the manager’s recommendation reflects six priorities: minimize tax increases, preserve social safety‑net services, continue school funding, invest in employee compensation, align spending with the county strategic plan and create budget flexibility to respond to likely appeals from the recent property revaluation. He told the board the package includes a 2.95¢ increase above revenue neutral: 1.94¢ for school pay‑go capital and 1¢ for school continuation and county operations. “All of the good ideas that are in here are theirs. All of the bad ideas are mine,” Mahren said as he introduced the budget and budget staff.

The recommendation translated to a total county tax rate of about 65.59¢ and, according to the manager, would raise about $9 million to support the recommended spending. Mahren gave examples of homeowner impacts: under the manager’s approach, the additional county tax cost on a $400,000 home…