Freeport mayor outlines growth, $95.4M budget and new community investments in State of the City

The mayor opened the June 25 council meeting with the 2025 State of the City address and framed the past year as one of “growth, investment, infrastructure and continued commitment to improving quality of life,” highlighting the city’s adopted $95,429,130 budget and a millage rate of 4.7302.

The address noted key capital investments completed or underway: the new community center opened Nov. 14, 2025, at an approximate $3 million cost and its fee and operations policies were approved by the council; renovation work on the former city hall included new exterior glass and updated offices for mosquito-control staff; and a government-complex lighting project began, with Phase 1 at Casey Park/Veterans Memorial complete and Phase 2 at city hall approved and moving forward. “This report reflects a year of growth,” the mayor said during the remarks.

Parks and recreation received several mentions: the council allocated $181,000 for initial design work at the Ronnie Brandon Senior Park following a land donation, new pickleball courts at the Freeport Regional Sports Complex opened March 30, 2026, and upgrades at the sports complex included shade structures, climbing equipment and a new sound system. City staff said swimming-pool repairs were completed ahead of the season, and the council approved a baseball tournament contract with the Freeport Foot League Association.

Transportation and grant-funded projects were also highlighted. Staff reported an FDOT landscaping grant for improvements along Highway 331, county partnerships to pave up to two miles of road, and an activated traffic signal at Highway 20 and County Road 83A that began operating May 27, 2026. Sidewalk and pedestrian-bridge work on Four Mile Road and a Bear Creek replacement project were funded in part by an FDOT grant reported as $850,000; the mayor provided project total and remaining-balance figures during the address (those figures’ transcript formatting was inconsistent).

Utilities and capital planning were addressed in detail. The council adopted updated water and wastewater rates with increases scheduled to begin Oct. 1, 2026, and annual adjustments planned through Sept. 2030. Staff reported that wastewater treatment-plant design had reached roughly 90% completion and that SRF loan documents related to North Bay were finalized; the council later approved a motion to authorize signing those loan documents during the meeting. Staff noted ARPA funds remain available for eligible wastewater and storm-related projects.

The mayor called out public-safety measures, including a new policy to purchase AED equipment for all city properties and the expansion of mosquito-control into a dedicated department with approved training and certification participation. The Rotary Club of Freeport presented support for rescue-tube placement at Mars Landing and Four Mile Creek; council approved implementation of the rescue tubes.

The address closed with recognitions for city staff and volunteers: Jean Martin was named employee of the year and Larry Todd supervisor of the year; the city also presented a key to the city to Kaylee Bird (Miss Freeport 2025), who later earned a national title. The mayor concluded by reiterating a focus on responsible growth and stewardship.

The council moved from the address into the regular meeting, where staff and council members handled consent items, contract approvals and planning revisions.

Ending: The mayor ended the address by asking to continue serving as mayor; the meeting then proceeded to business including motions to approve contracts and schedule budget workshops.