Town of Oakland adopts 6.7-mill rate and $30.28 million fiscal 2024–25 budget; commissioners flag fire-service costs

The Town Commission of the Town of Oakland adopted a 6.7-mill ad valorem tax rate and approved a $30,282,114 fiscal year 2024–25 budget at its final budget hearing on Sept. 24, 2024.

Gabby, a town staff presenter, told the commission the town had proposed a 6.3-mill rate in June, considered a tentative 6.9 mills to offset an unanticipated county fire tax bill, and ultimately presented the budget on a 6.7-mill rate. "The proposed the purpose of this hearing is to present to the Town Commission and the residents the proposed final millage, the rollback rate, and the final budget changes," Gabby said. The transcript records the rollback rate as 6.1584 and that the adopted 6.7 mills exceeds the rollback by 8.79%.

The commission heard a verbatim reading of Resolution 2024-07, which formalized the millage rate and cited Section 200.065 of the Florida Statutes. After public discussion and questions, the commission approved Resolution 2024-07 on a voice vote.

Staff and commissioners discussed specific budget adjustments that made the adopted rate possible. According to the meeting record, staff identified roughly $200,000 in savings achieved between the tentative and final hearings through a combination of…