Brooksville council sets tentative 6.5‑mill rate despite public objections

The Brooksville City Council voted 4‑0 on July 27 to set the tentative millage rate for fiscal year 2027 at 6.5000 mills, the rate staff presented as the balanced figure for the draft general fund budget.

A resident who invoked Florida Statute 119.0712(j) to withhold her name urged council to adopt the rollback rate instead, arguing the 6.5‑mill figure “is a 13.23% tax increase” above last year’s rollback benchmark and that the city’s budget prioritizes new recurring obligations over cost control. The speaker told the council, “A budget is a list of planned spending, not a justification for raising taxes,” and urged adoption of the rollback rate to avoid raising property tax collections.

Council members debated whether to set a slightly lower tentative rate now or pursue deeper reductions during two upcoming budget hearings. Councilmember Audrey Young moved to set the tentative rate at 6.5 mills; the motion was seconded and passed 4‑0. Mayor (S1) and other council members said the tentative figure is not final and that the council will consider reductions during budget workshops scheduled for Sept. 9 and Sept. 23.

Following the vote, staff clarified an apparent numerical mismatch raised in public comment: the rollback figure provided to council for this year was 6.5078 mills, meaning the 6.5000 mills the council set is lower than the rollback calculation staff supplied. City Manager (S11) said the city does not currently have a credit rating and is working with PRAG and the Florida League of Cities as part of planning for wastewater expansion financing.

The council’s vote establishes a ceiling for the tentative rate; any final rate adopted later this fall can be the same or lower but not higher than the tentative rate.