Largo commission approves 5.52-mill property tax rate after split vote
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Summary
After public comment and debate over reserves and spending priorities, the City of Largo commission approved Ordinance 2025‑42 setting the FY2026 property tax rate at 5.52 mills. The measure passed 5‑2 and a second public hearing and final adoption are scheduled for Sept. 16, 2025.
The City of Largo commission voted Sept. 3, 2025, to set the tentative property tax (millage) rate for fiscal year 2026 at 5.52 mills, approving Ordinance 2025‑42 by a 5‑2 roll-call vote and scheduling a second public hearing and final adoption for Sept. 16 at 6 p.m.
Staff told the commission the city’s taxable property values increased about 5.84% this year and that the 5.52‑mill rate would generate an estimated $2.4 million in additional revenue compared with FY2025, producing an ending fund balance near 17.8% under the tentative budget. Staff also reminded commissioners that homestead assessments are subject to a 3% cap and commercial property to a 10% cap.
Two residents spoke during the public‑hearing portion. Craig Murtha criticized city spending and capital projects, calling for tighter purchasing practices for vehicles and buildings and noting what he described as high per‑resident costs for recent projects. Matthew Faustini warned the commission the five‑year financial plan relied on continued property‑value growth and said the budget planned to spend down reserves in coming years.
Commission discussion focused on tradeoffs between reducing the millage to ease taxpayer burden and maintaining revenues to preserve services. Multiple commissioners expressed interest in identifying modest reductions — one cited approximately $200,000 as an achievable target — while Vice Mayor Holmes emphasized that public safety obligations (police, fire and sanitation) must remain fully funded under state law.
A first motion to set the rate at 5.5059 mills failed on a roll call. A subsequent motion to adopt the 5.52‑mill rate carried 5‑2; the transcript records Commissioner Smith voting no and records Vice Mayor Holmes and Commissioner Johnson voting yes, with the mayor announcing the result as 5 to 2.
The commission also confirmed a second public hearing and adoption would occur Sept. 16; the tentative budget and tax‑rate advertisements will be posted Sept. 14, and the fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
Next steps: the commission will take public comment again at the Sept. 16 hearing before formally adopting the tax rate and final FY2026 budget.
