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Citrus County special library district approves tentative millage rate 0.3034 amid discussion of hours
Summary
The Citrus County Special Library District approved a tentative millage rate of 0.3034 for fiscal year 02/2027 while commissioners asked staff to seek ways to preserve or expand library hours in Floral City and Homosassa amid personnel cost pressures.
The Citrus County Special Library District on a July 2026 preliminary budget hearing approved a tentative millage rate of 0.3034 for fiscal year 02/2027 and discussed requests for expanded library hours in parts of the county.
Interim department of management and budget director Barbara Luckum presented the library services budget and said the library system was "choosing to go to rollback," noting that most budget pressure came from personnel increases tied to across-the-board payroll and health insurance premium increases. "There is not much else in their budget," she said, adding that the increases are the primary driver of change.
The presentation drew questions from commissioners about service levels. Commissioner Rebecca Bays said residents in Homosassa "have been asking for the additional hours at the library," and asked how a rollback would affect those requests. Jana Barrick, 1st vice chair, said volunteer support helps keep costs down but agreed that "Floral City does deserve more hours," and urged staff to look for ways to provide operating hours there.
A meeting participant said staff had discussed the issue and that growth-related funds could be used to move money into the library fund balance. "I've actually talked with staff over the last couple days about that, and I think they're gonna come up with a solution," the participant said, adding the matter would be brought back to the board.
The clerk read a motion "to accept the special library district tentative millage rate of 0.3034 for the fiscal year of 02/2027" into the record. The board voted to approve the motion (mover recorded as Commissioner Holly Davis; second recorded as Councilwoman Crystal Lizanich). The motion carried, 7-0.
Earlier in the session the board unanimously approved the minutes. The chair closed the library budget portion of the meeting and said the next agenda item would begin at 08:45.
What happens next: Board members and staff said they will return with proposals for adjusting hours and using available fund balance; the tentative millage rate sets the tax cap for further budget work ahead of final adoption.
