Commissioners note $55.7M in reserves as board adopts tentative budget

A county staff member presented the proposed FY2027 budget and broke out proposed expenditures and reserves: proposed expenditures of $120,414,551 and proposed reserves of $55,739,972, for a total tentative budget of $176,154,523. "The proposed expenditures total $120,414,551 and the proposed reserves total $55,739,972," the Clerk said while reading the budget summary.

After the board moved to close public comment and adopt the tentative budget, the Chair reiterated a clarification attributed to "Miss Lisa," noting that the roughly $55 million in reserves is not spending authority for current operations. The board approved the tentative budget (Resolution 2026-60) by unanimous voice vote; the Clerk said a copy will be filed as a public record in the office of the Okeechobee County Clerk of Circuit Court.