Bay County board authorizes certification of tentative FY27 millage rates

Bay County commissioners on July 21 voted to authorize certification of tentative maximum millage rates for fiscal year 2027 and to advertise the first budget hearing for Sept. 15.

Miranda Griffin of the county budget office told the board that the proposed maximum rates “are the same rates as we currently have in FY26,” and listed the rates: general fund 5.4362 mills; mosquito control 0.2000 mills; MSTU fire 1.3800 mills. Staff asked the board to authorize sending those tentative rates to the property appraiser and to publish the statutorily required notice for the first public budget hearing.

Commissioners questioned and thanked staff for coordination with constitutional offices and for efforts to keep costs down ahead of the November election, and then moved and approved the certification by roll call. The board did not set final rates; the action authorized only certification of the tentative rates and publication of the required notice ahead of the subsequent public hearing.

The first public budget hearing is scheduled for Sept. 15; a final adoption vote will occur later in the budget process.