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Starke commission adopts 4.3879 mill rate and final 2026 budget; approves CIP ordinance and site plan
Summary
At its Sept. 23 meeting, the City of Starke Commission set the final millage at 4.3879 mills and adopted the city's 2026 final budget by resolution. The commission also approved a site plan for an industrial concrete facility, passed a second-reading ordinance creating a capital improvement plan, swore in new members, and agreed to form a charter review commission.
The City of Starke Commission on Sept. 23 adopted a final millage rate of 4.3879 mills and approved the city's final budget for 2026, passed a second-reading ordinance to establish a capital improvement plan and approved a site plan for an industrial concrete facility, officials said.
The meeting opened with a budget hearing limited to millage. City staff presented the proposed final millage as 4.3879 mills, which the presentation said is higher than the rollback rate of 4.1669. Commissioner Milner moved to adopt Resolution 2025-48 setting the millage at 4.3879; Commissioner Nent seconded and the commission voted in favor. The clerk recorded the motion as passed in the transcript ("Motion passes 58").
Mr. Mullins then outlined the proposed final budget, listing the general fund and other fund totals presented to the commission. The figures read into the record included a general fund total of 8,590,640, special revenue funds listed as 1,888,697, and enterprise funds of 43,623,937, yielding a transcript-presented total of "54,95,262." The presentation stated operating expenses were about 224% higher than last year. Commissioner Mortimer moved to adopt Resolution 2025-49 to approve the final 2026 budget; Commissioner Nent seconded and the motion passed (transcript: "Motion passes 5"). The transcript contains formatting and numeric inconsistencies for totals; the commission adopted the budget by recorded resolution as noted.
During the meeting the commission swore in newly elected officials identified in the record as Miss Temple Over Street and Miss Chissy Thompson; attendees applauded. Commissioners also presented a plaque to Scott Roberts honoring four years of service; Roberts delivered a brief farewell reflecting on his time on the commission.
The commission moved on to routine business. After staff reported a site-plan review, Commissioner Miller moved and Commissioner Nent seconded approval of a site plan for a concrete facility on a 14-acre industrial parcel. Commissioners asked about dust, truck turning movements and the next steps (annexation and zoning details were discussed); there was no public opposition on the record and the motion carried.
On the agenda for ordinance business, the commission held the second reading of an ordinance establishing a capital improvement plan (CIP) and adopting an update to the 2026–2030 improvement program. Commissioner Miller moved to approve the ordinance; it received a second, there was no public comment, and the motion passed.
Public commenters included Thomas Smith, who reported vandalism and power damage at a property he inspected in April and was asked to provide an estimate of damages to staff, and Larry, who identified himself with Meridian Healthcare and described a recently reinstated federal disaster-recovery program offering mobile-response services for mental-health and substance-abuse crises.
During commission reports members discussed forming a charter review commission to update the city's charter (noted as originating in the 1920s). Mr. Walker described a typical charter-review process: a five- to seven-member advisory commission representing residents, business owners and staff; a six- to 12-month review period; and a final recommendation that the commission could place on the ballot by ordinance. Commissioners asked staff to return with member recommendations.
Other items: officials reported recent appropriations had secured mobile radios for the Starke Fire Department and local public-safety partners; commissioners discussed community support for a deputy sheriff recently diagnosed with cancer; and Captain Mueller reported new signage on Cherry Street to protect a designated route and fielded questions about enforcement and fundraising activity outside city limits.
The commission closed by asking each commissioner to bring recommended charter-review nominees (one per district plus staff recommendations) to the next meeting and confirmed an appropriation meeting scheduled for Oct. 23 at 10 a.m.
The commission recorded formal actions on Resolution 2025-48 (final millage) and Resolution 2025-49 (final budget) and passed a second-reading ordinance creating a capital improvement plan; motions for site-plan approval and several board appointments also passed on voice votes during the meeting.
