Polk County commissioners adopt FY 2025–26 millage rates and final budget

The Polk County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 15 adopted resolutions to set final fiscal year 2025–26 millage rates for the county and multiple municipal services taxing units (MSTUs) and approved the county'wide final budget totaling $3,464,631,333.

Kristia Johnson, Polk County Budget and Management Services director, read the budget and millage information into the record during a public hearing required under Florida statute. Johnson told the board the county'wide adopted tentative millage rate for FY 2025–26 was 6.6348 mills and the rollback rate was 6.3607 mills, a difference of 0.2741 mills (4.3%). She said the ad valorem revenue generated by the adopted tentative countywide rate would be $478,905,446 versus $459,120,678 under the rollback rate — a difference of $19,784,768, which Johnson said is "necessary to maintain services within the funds this levy applies to." (Kristia Johnson)

The board also reviewed MSTU rates and revenues. Johnson read the adopted tentative and rollback figures for the Polk County Parks MSTU (adopted tentative 0.5286 mills; rollback 0.5092 mills; 3.8% increase), Polk County Library MSTU (adopted tentative 0.1985 mills; rollback 0.1912 mills; 3.8% increase), Polk County Stormwater MSTU (adopted tentative 0.0941 mills; rollback 0.0906 mills; 3.9% increase) and the Rancho Benito MSTU (adopted tentative 9.1272 mills; rollback 8.9594 mills; 1.9% increase). Johnson gave the corresponding ad valorem revenue differences for each MSTU, for example noting the parks MSTU would generate $21,761,557 at the adopted tentative rate compared with $20,962,893 at the rollback rate, a $798,664 increase.

On a staff recommendation read into the record, the board moved to adopt a resolution establishing the FY 2025–26 operating millage rate as stated in the staff recommendation; a motion and second were made, commissioners voted "Aye," and the motion carried. The board then considered and approved a staff resolution adopting the final budget, including the countywide adopted tentative budget total of $3,464,631,333 and separate final budgets Johnson read for the MSTUs: Parks MSTU $46,013,519; Library MSTU $12,074,224; Stormwater MSTU $14,370,652; Rancho Benito MSTU $67,564. The motion to adopt the final budget was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote.

Johnson told the board the additional MSTU revenue will be used to maintain services and to fund "upcoming water quality projects and other services related to the NPDES permit as mandated by the Federal Clean Water Act" in the stormwater MSTU. The hearing record shows no members of the public came forward to speak on the budget or millage rates during the public comment portion of the hearing.

Following the votes, several commissioners and staff exchanged brief remarks of thanks to the Budget and Management Services division; the meeting adjourned thereafter.