Juno Beach council adopts 1.8195 millage rate and $10.65 million budget

The Juno Beach Town Council adopted a final millage rate of 1.8195 mills — 5.67% above the rolled-back rate of 1.7219 — during its Sept. 24 final budget hearing. Council also adopted the town'wide fiscal 2025–26 budget of $10,645,492 by unanimous vote.

Town staff told the council the proposed millage would generate $4,596,375 in ad valorem revenue. Staff presented consolidated revenues of $10,645,492, a 1.3% decrease from the prior year, and outlined department-level expenditure budgets for legislative, finance and administration, planning, public works and law enforcement. "This millage will generate 4,596,375 in budgeted ad valorem revenue," staff said during the presentation.

Public comment addressed police funding, with resident Siobhan O'Donnell urging the council to include full costs for local officers in the budget and to reduce reliance on the private Police Foundation. Police Chief (speaker 19) clarified that the foundation does not pay officer salaries and that the department's operating budget is roughly $3.7 million; foundation gifts typically fund items "above and beyond" the adopted budget. "It doesn't pay for any salaries," the chief said.

Council discussed outstanding collective bargaining matters; staff said an update would come after Emily returns from vacation and that any required executive session would follow counsel's advice. After discussion, the council approved Resolution 2025-14 setting the millage at 1.8195 and Resolution 2025-15 adopting the annual budget, both by unanimous roll calls.