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Atlantic Beach commission trims proposed millage, adopts amended budget after public hearing
Summary
The commission voted 3–2 on Sept. 22 to set the city millage at 2.7499 and adopted an amended FY 2025–26 operating budget reflecting staff-recommended cuts. The decision reduces projected revenue roughly $280,313 from the manager’s original proposal and sets a path for later adjustments.
The Atlantic Beach City Commission on Sept. 22 voted 3–2 to set the citywide property millage at 2.7499 and approved an amended fiscal-year 2025–26 operating budget that reflects manager-recommended deletions tied to the smaller revenue projection.
The vote followed a public hearing in which residents urged opposing positions. “Do not vote for the stated rate of 2.84, but instead go to the rollback rate,” resident Harold Harrell told commissioners, urging a rollback to avoid higher taxes. In contrast, resident Sarah Bourne cautioned that deferred maintenance can generate larger costs later, citing the city’s wastewater treatment problems as an example of the trade-offs at stake.
City staff had told the commission the rollback rate is 2.6312 and that the manager’s proposed rate was 2.841 (described in staff materials as 7.97% above the rollback). During debate staff presented two cut scenarios: a simple-majority option that would reduce budgeted revenue by about $280,313 (if the millage were set at 2.7499) and a fuller rollback that would cut approximately $645,551. Commissioners discussed public services, capital projects and recurring personnel additions before settling on the middle option.
Commissioner Ring, who supported the 2.7499 motion, said she could not find nonessential spending to cut to reach the rollback without affecting services. Mayor Curtis Ford and Commissioner Grant joined Ring in supporting 2.7499; Commissioners Kelly and Bull opposed the motion. The clerk recorded the final millage vote as 3 in favor, 2 opposed.
With the millage set, the commission approved an amended operating budget ordinance (final reading) that incorporates the manager’s recommended deletions tied to the adopted millage. City Manager Bill Killingsworth told the commission staff has prepared cut lists corresponding to the majority and rollback scenarios and that the budget remains amendable throughout the year.
The commission also directed staff to return with specifics about the cuts and the timing of any remaining projects. The manager said the budget can be amended later if the commission chooses to restore items or reallocate funding following workshops or additional revenue adjustments.
