Casselberry commission approves tentative 3.9999-mill rate and $87.42 million tentative budget

The Casselberry City Commission on Sept. 8 adopted a tentative operating property tax rate of 3.9999 mills and a voted debt millage of 0.6126 mills and approved a tentative city budget of $87,419,867 for fiscal year 2026, the city manager said. The commission scheduled a final public hearing and potential final adoption for Sept. 22 at 5:30 p.m.

City Manager (S2) told commissioners the higher tentative millage is driven by rising personnel, benefit and capital costs. "Salaries and raises and benefits grew about 18%," he said, and "police salaries and benefits" rose about 35% over the last two years. He said the proposed operating millage would generate about $10,601,467 for the general fund, and the voted debt millage would yield roughly $1,623,656 to cover annual debt service on voter-authorized bonds.

The nut of the discussion was financial sustainability: the city manager warned that without increased revenues the general fund reserve could be exhausted within five years. Commissioners pressed staff on whether the budget was built to meet a millage target or to reflect actual needs; the city manager said staff refined projections as new information arrived, citing added costs to operate the new aquatic center year-round and reorganizations following park openings.

The commission also reviewed a proposed citywide budget of $87,419,867 that the city manager said balances projected revenue increases (including higher pool fees, franchise fee projections and sales-tax distributions) with added expenditures. Key budget figures the manager cited included a general fund of $30,091,723, enterprise funds totaling $40,062,971, and roughly $22.1 million in capital improvements citywide. The manager said the city plans to use approximately $3 million in fund balance appropriations, including $2 million from the Community Redevelopment Agency fund and $500,000 from stormwater reserves for pipe rehabilitation.

On staffing, the manager said the net increase is close to 15 full-time positions citywide, largely in parks and recreation to support the new aquatic center (including two additional full-time lifeguards), and two positions added at the police department that had been previously requested.

No members of the public addressed either hearing. A motion to approve Resolution 25-3538 (tentative millage) carried, and the commission then approved Resolution 25-3539, the tentative budget. Both votes were announced by the chair as passed; the commission invited the public to attend the Sept. 22 final hearings.

During general discussion, commissioners raised the city's vulnerability to disasters and uncertainty about future federal/state disaster assistance, and suggested monitoring opportunities to reduce the millage later if fiscal pressures ease. A citizen, Dan McCloy, senior warden of the South Seminole Masonic Lodge, used the meeting's public-comment period to invite the city to partner with the lodge on community events and to attend lodge dinners.

The commission also instructed staff to review a request to add electronic locking on park restrooms to allow scheduled opening and closing times and noted upcoming community events including a food truck night and a Latin Jazz and Art Festival at Lake Concord Park.

The commission will hold the final public hearings and votes on the millage and budget at a meeting on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in City Commission Chambers.