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Charlotte County keeps tentative millage rates unchanged, asks staff to seek reductions
Summary
The Charlotte County Board voted 4–0 on July 24 to set tentative millage rates unchanged for FY2026 and directed staff to return with options to lower rates before final hearings; the decision was framed as a placeholder for TRIM notices while staff will examine reserves, sheriff costs and capital allocations.
The Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners voted 4–0 on July 24 to set tentative ad valorem millage rates unchanged from the prior year and directed staff to return with scenarios to lower rates before the September public hearings.
Francine Lisby, assistant budget director, had presented four millage scenarios including (1) rates that would generate the same total revenue as last year, (2) unchanged rates (the staff-recommended scenario used to build the tentative FY2026 budget), (3) rates to fund an expanded community services staffing request, and (4) maximum rollback rates that account for Save Our Homes protections. Commissioners asked staff to bring back options rather than raise rates now.
Commissioner Doherty moved to keep millage the same as FY2024–25; the motion was seconded and discussed before passing unanimously by the four commissioners present, with one commissioner absent. Commissioners emphasized they may approve a lower final rate in September and asked staff to examine multiple funding sources — including the law enforcement fund and capital project allocations — and to identify what portion of current reserves is truly needed for immediate recovery versus long-term stabilization.
Budget staff provided figures showing a tentative 7.9% countywide valuation increase that adds about $2.5 billion to the tax roll and translates to roughly $21.3 million of additional ad valorem revenue before allocations. Staff noted that about $15.2 million of the increase falls to countywide millages and roughly $5.5 million to the General Fund; hurricane impacts reduced the roll by about $550 million and lowered revenue by an estimated $5 million.
The board’s vote establishes the numbers that will appear on TRIM notices mailed in August. Commissioners directed staff to return with concrete millage-reduction options, including specific cuts or reallocations in the General Fund, capital projects and sheriff operations, and to provide a recommended target and methodology if the county moves some ad valorem reserves to a dedicated hurricane retention or self-insurance reserve.
