Gainesville manager outlines FY2025 budget: $37M request, 5% COLA and no millage rollback recommended

City Manager Brian Lackey presented a summary of the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget during the June 18 public hearing, telling the mayor and council the operating budget is roughly $37,000,000, an increase of about 7% over the prior year.

Lackey said capital projects total approximately $4,630,000 and described an included 5% cost-of-living adjustment for city employees. He stated that roughly 50% of the budget funds public safety and that property tax comprises only about 5% of the city's overall revenue mix because of local online sales tax collections incorporated under recent law changes. "Our budget this year is a little $37,000,000 a 7% increase on all that and the capital projects this year at 4 6,430,000," he said in the public presentation.

Lackey recommended a non-rollback by maintaining the general fund millage rate at 0.239% to balance rising costs without increasing the tax rate. He explained timing issues with the tax commissioner and assessor required one more hearing: final budget approval is scheduled for the July 2 meeting, when staff will present the formal budget resolutions and the council would act.

No members of the public spoke during the hearing; the public hearing was closed and no executive session was requested. Council did not take a final vote on the budget at the June 18 meeting.

Provenance: Summary and numerical figures were read by City Manager Brian Lackey during the public hearing portion of the June 18 meeting and recorded in the transcript.