Atlantic Beach budget workshop highlights homestead-exemption risk, state infrastructure awards and a $10,000 STEM grant request

Atlantic Beach City Manager Hogan Camp presented an overview of the proposed fiscal-year 2026–27 budget at a June 29 workshop, telling the City Commission he plans to propose maintaining the city's millage rate at 2.7499 and urging preparation for a potential statewide homestead-exemption referendum that could reduce local revenues.

Hogan Camp said the city would "maintain that millage rate" unless the commission directs otherwise or a catastrophic event occurs, and warned that the referendum could meaningfully shrink the general fund. He told the commission staff's modeling showed a possible loss of roughly $1,060,000 in the first year under one projection and a larger multi-year effect (on the order of $1.8 million after a second-year change in exemptions), and said, "we're already thinking about and preparing for just in case that happens." The discussion prompted commissioners to consider options including fee increases, special assessments, spending reductions or, as a last resort, a millage increase.

Finance Director Britney Purcell answered questions on the city's reserves, describing a projected unrestricted fund balance near 30 percent and giving a draft dollar estimate "about 4,000,000" for that unrestricted portion. Hogan Camp and commissioners also reviewed the larger budget picture: a total municipal budget of about $57,600,000 with a roughly $21,600,000 general fund, and a revenue mix in which ad valorem taxes make up about 39.9 percent of general-fund revenue.

The manager reported state-level developments that affect local projects: "Governor DeSantis has signed the state budget securing more than 1,000,000 dollars for three of our infrastructure projects," he said, naming Sherman Creek dredging, a Door Drive project and Marsh Oaks septic-tank elimination. He also noted that a $195,000 appropriation for a Sailfish Drive multiuse path was vetoed.

On intergovernmental issues, commissioners pressed for progress on an interlocal agreement with the City of Jacksonville, a process staff said remains pending a consultant report due in October. Several commissioners flagged fire services costs (JFRD) as a major line item they want addressed in any interlocal arrangement.

During public comment, Sunny Roten, speaking for Friends of Atlantic Beach Elementary, asked the commission to support a $10,000 STEM grant request for the coming school year, saying last year the city's $7,500 grant funded a SIM resource class, a schoolwide STEM assembly and the school's robotics program and that the program "cost over 13,000" last year. Commissioners praised the presentation but noted a 33 percent year-over-year request during a year when the commission is planning for potential revenue pressure.

Another public speaker, Frankly Harrell, urged commissioners to "look out for the referendum statewide come November" and asked for more transparency around the city's trash-hauling contract with GFL, citing dates for fuel and CPI adjustments that he said commissioners should verify.

Staff outlined next steps and scheduling: department presentations (police and public utilities on July 20; other departments on August 19) and additional workshops where commissioners will see proposed numeric budget scenarios and be asked to prioritize projects. No formal votes were taken; the meeting closed with the commission agreeing to continue the dialogue and return with more detailed numbers and supporting documents at the next workshops.

The commission adjourned with no immediate changes to the budget adopted at the workshop, and members asked staff to provide supplemental materials requested during the meeting, including a detailed director-salary breakdown and a list of fines and forfeiture revenues.