Orange County tentatively adopts $9.02 billion FY27 budget and proposed millage rates

The Orange County Board of County Commissioners approved tentative millage rates and the FY2027 tentative budget at a public hearing that included extensive public comment and internal debate over whether to set rates at the recommended levels or to move to a rollback base.

Mayor Demings framed the budget as roughly $9.02 billion and said the plan reflects priorities including public safety, infrastructure, housing and services: "This $9,000,000,000 budget reflects clear priorities: public safety, infrastructure improvements, housing, economic strength, and quality of life improvements," he said, noting that more than $1.2 billion supports the sheriff's office, fire rescue and corrections and that $19.5 million is allocated to the affordable housing trust fund.

OMB Director Kurt Peterson read a long list of tentative millage rates and rollback comparisons. He said the countywide rollback rate is 4.2405 and the proposed countywide tentative millage is 4.4347, a reported 4.58% increase over the rollback rate; the aggregate proposed millage was read as 6.9675, a 2.21% increase over the aggregate rollback. The board debated an amendment to adopt the countywide rollback rate (which staff quantified as roughly a $48,846,277 reduction) but commissioners ultimately voted the amendment down and returned to the original motion.

After further motions the board approved the county's tentative millages and then the tentative budget. Kurt Peterson later announced the proposed FY27 budget total as $9,018,780,000 (the transcript includes that figure). The transcript records roll-call/voice tallies in two places (one recorded as 5–1 on an intermediate vote and a final recorded vote of 4–1); the board approved the package and scheduled a final public hearing for Sept. 24, 2026.