Highland Beach sets proposed millage, schedules hearings amid new quorum rules

The Town Commission on July 14 approved Resolution 2026-009, which sets the town’s proposed not-to-exceed millage rate and schedules public hearings to consider the tentative budget and millage.

Staff explained the procedural constraints created by recent state law changes and the county’s property-value certification timeline. “The county submitted estimated property values on June 25 and they start their certification on July 1; that 65-day clock sets the earliest public hearing date,” the town manager’s office said, noting the rollback rate calculation and the staff’s proposed millage rate. The proposed rate in the meeting packet was 3.5875, with the rollback rate shown at 3.278. Staff told the commission that to adopt a rate above the rollback would require a larger physical quorum under the new statute (four of five commissioners or unanimous presence for higher thresholds) and cautioned scheduling conflicts could complicate adoption.

Commissioners discussed potential September scheduling conflicts, travel and remote-participation limits; staff said they would explore whether remote participation could be used for budget votes but emphasized that current guidance suggested a physical quorum may be required for certain actions. The commission moved to approve the resolution and voted by roll call; the motion carried unanimously.

The adopted resolution initiates the statutory notice and hearing process that will produce the town’s tentative budget and set final adoption deadlines. Staff said they will coordinate specific hearing dates with the county and return to the commission with final public-hearing scheduling details and any legal guidance on remote participation for budget votes.