St. Augustine sets tentative millage at 7.5 mills for FY2026–27

The City Commission of St. Augustine on first action adopted a tentative millage rate of 7.5000 mills for the fiscal year 2026–27.

Ms. Burns, presenting resolution 2026-22, said the 7.5-mill rate represents a 3.61% increase over the calculated rollback rate of 7.2385 mills and that the additional ad valorem revenue will be used for projects discussed at the recent budget workshop, including road resurfacing, construction of the South Dixie Highway sidewalk project and funding for the Middleton House construction and the capital improvement plan. "This millage rate remains at 7.5 mills," Ms. Burns said.

Commissioners discussed constraints imposed by state law and the unequal effect of property reappraisals on longtime homeowners versus recent buyers; one commissioner noted that structural inequities in ad valorem assessments are a matter for state lawmakers. A motion to adopt the tentative rate passed on a recorded roll call; the clerk read the resolution into the record before the vote.

The tentative millage sets the ceiling for property tax levies used in producing the city budget and must be finalized in subsequent hearings. The measure cited Florida Statutes 200.065 in calculating the rollback rate and was recorded as resolution 2026-22.

The commission scheduled the final budget meeting for Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 5:05 p.m.