New Port Richey council sets tentative millage at 8.2000 mills, schedules Sept. 10 hearing

The New Port Richey City Council voted to approve Resolution No. 2026-14, establishing a tentative millage rate of 8.2000 mills for fiscal year 2026–27 and scheduling a public hearing for Sept. 10, 2026, at 6 p.m. The motion passed by a 3-0 roll call vote.

A city staff member told the council the resolution is intended to comply with the Truth in Millage Act of the Florida Statutes and that the tentative rate sets the maximum the council can adopt at this stage. "We are asking you to consider approving the tentative millage rate of 8.2000 mills," the staff member said, noting the final millage can be reduced later after revenues and expenditures are finalized.

Council members asked about the choice of hearing date. The chair asked, "Why are we doing on the 10th and not the 1st or the 15th?" Staff said scheduling conflicts with the school board and county and statutory timing around the release of taxable values influenced the choice. Crystal, a city staff member, explained: "It's timing of the, of the release of the taxable values. There's a certain amount of time that you can hold your public meetings after taxable values are released, after the proposed millage and the TRIM notices are released."

The chair opened the meeting for public comment; no members of the public addressed the council. The council then moved to approve the resolution and recorded three "aye" votes. The record shows Deputy Mayor Jonas and Councilman Altman were not in attendance for the vote.

The public hearing to adopt the tentative budget and proposed millage rate is scheduled for Sept. 10, 2026, at 6 p.m., at which time the council may adjust the rate downward but not above the adopted tentative maximum.