{"id":330953,"date":"2026-07-06T18:15:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T18:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/330953\/"},"modified":"2026-07-06T18:15:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T18:15:09","slug":"commissioners-to-review-preliminary-fy2026-27-budget-proposed-tax-increase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/330953\/","title":{"rendered":"Commissioners to review preliminary FY2026-27 budget, proposed tax increase\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0City Commission<\/a>\u00a0will consider a proposed 1-mill property tax increase at its Wednesday workshop, which city staff\u00a0said\u00a0is needed to help fund major capital projects, employee compensation increases and other priorities in the city\u2019s preliminary $283.7 million fiscal year 2026-27 budget.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The budget workshop is scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, in the commission chambers at Apopka City Hall. Finance Director Blanche Sherman will present the preliminary budget\u00a0after department directors, the interim city administrator, the\u00a0mayor\u00a0and finance staff completed weeks of internal budget reviews and revisions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The proposal would increase the city\u2019s millage rate from\u00a04.4376 mills\u00a0to\u00a05.4376 mills,\u00a0generating an estimated\u00a0$9.08 million\u00a0in\u00a0additional\u00a0General Fund revenue, according to the budget presentation prepared for the City Commission\u2019s budget workshop.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Among the largest proposed expenditures are\u00a0$40 million to replace Fire Station No. 1,\u00a0$10 million for a seventh fire station\u00a0and\u00a0$15 million for the reconstruction and widening of Golden Gem Road,\u00a0the latter contingent upon grant funding.\u00a0The\u00a0preliminary\u00a0utility budget includes $10 million to replace the membrane at the Golden Gem reclaimed-water storage pond and $4 million for improvements to a 30-inch water main extending from Rodgers Road to\u00a0Ponkan\u00a0Road.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Additional\u00a0fire-related requests include $350,000 to renovate an existing fire station, $950,000 for staircase fabrication at the fire training\u00a0center\u00a0and $240,000 for gas-fired training props.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Other proposed capital projects include new restrooms and\u00a0additional\u00a0improvements at the Northwest Recreation Complex, a mobile command center for the Police\u00a0Department\u00a0and the second phase of the city\u2019s enterprise resource planning software system. The proposal also includes funding for new personnel and employee compensation adjustments.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The presentation outlines significant changes in projected revenues. While property tax revenue is expected to increase because of higher taxable values and a proposed millage increase, the city\u00a0anticipates\u00a0declines in building permit revenue, plan\u00a0analysis\u00a0fees\u00a0and interest earnings.\u00a0Utility impact fee revenue is also projected to decrease as growth slows compared with recent years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Wednesday\u2019s workshop is for discussion only. The proposed budget will continue through the city\u2019s annual budget process before the commission considers formal adoption later this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Teresa Sargeant has been with The Apopka Chief for over 10 years.<\/p>\n

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