Leesburg commission votes to send TRIM notices at current millage after debate

The Leesburg City Commission voted Monday to send DR-420 (TRIM) notices showing the city’s current millage rate — about 3.472 — after a debate over whether to advertise the lower rollback rate.

The vote came after staff told the commission that recent state legislation appears to require a two-thirds (0.667) vote to keep an existing millage rate, a change from prior years when a simple majority sufficed. A staff member explained: "the way we understand the law is that to keep your current millage rate requires a 0.667 vote." The staff member also summarized how the DR-420 form and TRIM notices control what the city may advertise and the advertising consequences of later changing the rate.

Commissioners discussed the fiscal trade-offs. One commissioner said the revenue difference between the rollback and current rates was “less than $400,000 — it’s like 380 I think,” and cautioned that the gap could affect public safety staffing plans, including frozen police positions. That commissioner said they favored keeping the current rate rather than immediately rolling back.

Commissioner Peterson moved to amend the DR-420 to reflect the current millage; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll call. After that amendment was approved, the commission approved the DR-420 resolution to send notices at the current rate. Staff emphasized that adopting the DR-420 for notice purposes does not lock the commission into a final budget: the formal millage and budget will be set in September at the public hearings, and the city can later lower the rate but may face added advertising requirements if it seeks to raise it above the notice.

The action directs staff to publish TRIM notices showing the adopted current millage and continue budget discussions in workshops leading up to the formal September hearings.