Cocoa council approves proposed millage 6.9532 mills after narrow 3–2 vote; rollback also adopted

Cocoa City Council voted to set its proposed millage rate for fiscal year 2025–26 at 6.9532 mills, approving the figure by a 3–2 margin after a lengthy public hearing and council debate over alternatives including the rollback rate and a 6.85‑mill compromise.

Staff told the council the city’s property valuations increased about 6.1% year‑over‑year, with roughly 2.1% attributable to new construction. Using TRIM rules and a budget developed with the 6.9532 mills assumption, staff forecasted a gross tax revenue increase that would generate about $742,000 for the general fund (95% statutory budget factor) and an estimated $136,786 in transfers to the city’s two CRAs.

During discussion councilmembers weighed tradeoffs: some argued that finding roughly $402,000 in the general fund to avoid any above‑rollback rate was feasible and would ease the burden on homeowners, while others said the proposed millage was necessary to preserve services, retain employees and cover recurring capital needs. Deputy Mayor Weeks and Councilwoman Coffs favored rollback or a lower compromise rate; the mayor and two council members favored the proposed rate.

Votes and motions: the council first adopted a resolution establishing the rollback rate (6.7367 mills) unanimously. A later motion to set a compromise proposed rate of 6.85 failed. The final vote to adopt the proposed millage of 6.9532 passed 3–2 (ayes: Mayor Blake, Councilman Hearn, Councilman Gorns; nays: Deputy Mayor Weeks, Councilwoman Coffs). The council also set the first public hearing on the budget for Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. in council chambers.

What it means: Under Florida TRIM procedures, any adopted rate above the rollback is advertised to taxpayers as a tax increase; staff and council noted that some valuation changes are not yet on the tax roll. City staff said if future meetings increase millage further, re‑notice and hearings would be required. Council members asking for more detail were told the general‑fund impacts should be evaluated against the $54.995 million general fund budget and that any cuts to absorb a rollback would have to come from that fund.

Next steps: Council will proceed with the TRIM schedule, mail notices as required by the property appraiser, and hold the advertised public hearings. The budget process will continue through the public hearings scheduled in August and September.