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Votes at a glance: millage set, utility and service rate hearings scheduled, airport lease amended
Summary
At its July meeting the Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioners set the tentative general-fund millage for TRIM notices, scheduled public hearings for several service assessments, and approved a lease amendment for two lots in the Airport Commerce Park.
The Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioners on July 2025 took a package of administrative and budget-related votes that set tax-notice rates, scheduled public hearings on service assessments, and approved a lease amendment for airport property.
The board voted unanimously to set a tentative general-fund millage rate of 7.8 mills for Fiscal Year 2025–26 for TRIM notice purposes and to set the law enforcement municipal service taxing unit (MSTU) millage at 0 mills for TRIM notice purposes. County staff said the 7.8 mill rate would generate roughly $35,248,007 in taxes and that the board could only reduce — not increase — the rate after TRIM notices are mailed.
The board also approved scheduling public hearings for proposed service assessments and fee adjustments: a fire-rescue residential assessment estimated at $143.34 per household beginning Oct. 1, 2025 (a staff estimate of about a 6% increase and a public hearing set for Aug. 28, 2025); an EMS residential rate of $179.11 (about a $12.21 per residence, or 7.3%, with an Aug. 28 public hearing); and a solid-waste residential assessment increase tied to a 4.58% CPI adjustment (about $15.48 annually) with a public hearing set for Aug. 28. The board also approved streetlight district assessments for two small districts with no change to the prior-year rates and scheduled an Aug. 28 hearing to adopt the annual assessment resolutions.
On property and economic development business at the airport, the board approved the first amendment to the Airport Commerce Park lease for Concrete Products of the Palm Beaches. The amendment adds Lots 24 and 34 to an existing lease, provides for a rent adjustment, and authorizes a mutual termination of the Lot 24 lease with BAM Agricultural Solutions, whose building was purchased by Concrete Products. The board voted to approve the amendment unanimously.
Several ceremonial proclamations and the consent agenda — including warrants totaling $8,672,089.30, grant applications and amendments, an FAA airport wildlife hazard assessment grant ($128,250), and other standard contracts — were accepted unanimously as presented.
Action summary (board-reported outcomes): - Tentative general-fund millage: 7.8 mills (approved; unanimous) - Law enforcement MSTU millage: 0 mills (approved; unanimous) - Fire-rescue residential rate resolution (set public hearing Aug. 28, 2025): approved (unanimous) - EMS residential rate resolution (set public hearing Aug. 28, 2025): approved (unanimous) - Solid waste assessment resolution (set public hearing Aug. 28, 2025): approved (unanimous) - Streetlight special-assessment resolutions (Oak Lake Estates, Southwest 18th Court): approved (unanimous) - Airport Commerce Park lease first amendment (Concrete Products / BAM Agricultural Solutions): approved (unanimous) - Consent agenda (warrants, grants, maintenance contracts, etc.): approved (unanimous)
The board recorded motions and unanimous voice votes for the above items; minutes show the board members present voting "aye" for the motions as read. Public hearings will determine the final assessment amounts where the board set only tentative rates for TRIM notice or set hearing dates.
