Greenacres council approves tentative millage and adopts $81.8 million FY2026 operating budget on first reading

City Manager McHugh presented the City of Greenacres’ tentative millage and operating budget on the first public hearing of the fiscal-year process, and the council approved both ordinances on first reading.

City Manager McHugh told the council that the certified total taxable value for the city rose to $3,382,129,026, an increase of $240,847,423 from last year’s $3,141,281,603. “The millage rate of 6.3 mills applicable to the general fund levy for fiscal year 2026 is 7.43% greater than the calculated rollback millage rate…of 5.8641 mills,” McHugh said, and that rate would generate about $20,455,116 in ad valorem revenue. Staff presented a proposed operating budget appropriating $81,792,071 for FY2026 and recommended approval on first reading.

Why it matters: staff and council emphasized that ad valorem (property tax) revenue is the most stable revenue stream but does not fully cover public safety spending. McHugh highlighted that public safety spending alone is about $28 million, larger than the city’s ad valorem yield, and that the city will rely on interfund transfers and other financing strategies to balance the budget.

Council discussion: Councilmember Noble said the increase translates to a modest per-household change, noting many residents pay more in school taxes than to Greenacres. Deputy Mayor Diaz pressed staff on large percentage changes in some line items: “Fines and forfeitures, it looks like a 390% change and miscellaneous income looks like an 800% change. Can you shed a little bit of light on why those are so different?” McHugh said fines and forfeitures include a conservative projection for school speed-zone camera revenue (subject to county and FDOT approvals) and that miscellaneous income reflects IT-related lease agreements; she emphasized staff took a conservative approach and did not budget the higher, multi‑million estimates provided by vendors.

Next steps and schedule: staff said the second public hearing to set the final millage and adopt the FY2026 budget is scheduled for Sept. 17, 2025, at 6 p.m. at Greenacres City Hall. The council approved both Ordinance 2025-17 (taxable valuation and millage) and Ordinance 2025-18 (operating budget) on first reading by unanimous vote.

Votes at a glance
Ordinance 2025-17 (tentative millage) — motion moved by Deputy Mayor Diaz, seconded by Councilmember Tharpe; outcome: approved on first reading (unanimous).
Ordinance 2025-18 (FY2026 operating budget) — motion moved by Councilmember Tharpe, seconded by Councilmember Noble; outcome: approved on first reading (unanimous).

Staff contact: City Manager McHugh/Finance Department.