started i want to call the order of the september 15th 2025 polk county board of county commissioners public hearing on the physical year 25 26 budget agenda mr mink yes sir uh gen item number a is to discuss the purpose of the public hearing for fy 25 26 budget hearings are permanent primarily for the purpose of explaining the budget proposed tax levy and any proposed amendments as well as supporting the public the opportunity to participate in the budget process at this time mr chair i will turn this turn them here and over to christia johnson the budget and management service
director good evening commissioners item b is discuss the adopted tentative millage rates for fiscal year 25 26 item b1 discuss the 20 the fiscal year 25 26 board of county commissioners adopted tentative operating millage rate so under florida statute there's a lot of information that needs to be read into the record so please bear with me for the next few minutes as i go through item b1 and b2 there's a lot of data that i'm going to have to read under item b1 the countywide millage rates i'm only going to be reading the totals the the breakout between the four different funds under the countywide millage rate is an internal that's for internal purposes only and we only report the aggregate millage rate to the state under item b2 for the mstu millage rates i will have to read through each one individually as each mstu is considered a separate and distinct taxing authority the fiscal year 24 25 total countywide adopted millage rate is 6.6348 mils the fiscal year 25 26 total countywide adopted tentative millage rate is 6.6348 mils for no difference the rolled back rate is the millage rate that would have to be adopted in fiscal year 25 26 to bring in the same ad valorem revenue as the current year subject to certain statutory adjustments the fiscal year 25 26 total countywide rolled back rate is 6.3607 the fiscal year 25 26 total countywide adopted tentative millage rate is 6.6348 mils that's a difference of 0.2741 mils which is 4.3 percent increase from the rolled back rate the total the total countywide ad valorem revenue that would be generated by the fiscal year 25 26 rolled back rate is 459 million 120 thousand 678 dollars the total countywide ad valorem revenue generated by the fiscal year 25 26 adopted tentative millage rate is 478 million nine hundred and five thousand four hundred and forty six dollars that's a difference of 19 million seven hundred and eighty four thousand seven hundred and sixty eight dollars which is a 4.3 percent increase from the rolled back rate the increase over the rolled back rate is necessary to maintain services within the funds this levy applies to item b2 discuss the fiscal year 25 26 adopted tentative millage rate for millage rate for milage rate for the milage rate for the polish millage rate for the and Your Life Representativefinity Municipal Service Taxing Unit the Polk County Library MSTU the Polk County Stormwater MSTU and the Polk County Rancho Benito MSTU The fiscal year 24 25 adopted millage rate for the park's MSTU is 0.5286 mils The fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative millage rate for the park's MSTU is 0.5286 mils. There is no difference. The fiscal year 2425 adopted millage rate for the library MSTU is 0.1985 mils. The fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative millage rate for the library MSTU is 0.1985 mils. There is no difference. The fiscal year 2425 adopted millage rate for the stormwater MSTU is 0.0941 mils. The fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative millage rate for the stormwater MSTU is 0.0941 mils. There is no difference. The total for all of the unincorporated area MSTUs for fiscal year 2425 adopted millage rate is 0.8212 mils. The fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative millage rate for all unincorporated MSTUs is 0.8212 mils. There is no difference. The fiscal year 2425 adopted millage rate for the Rancho Benito MSTU is 9.1272. The fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative millage rate for the Rancho Benito MSTU is 9.1272 mils. There is no difference. The fiscal year 2425 adopted millage rate in total for all MSTUs is 9.9484 mils. The fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative millage rate for all MSTUs is 9.9484 mils. There is no difference. The fiscal year 2526 rolled back rate for the Park's MSTU is 0.5092 mils. The fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative millage rate for the Park's MSTU is 0.5286 mils. That's a difference of 0.0194 mils, which is a 3.8% increase from the rolled back rate. The fiscal year 2526 rolled back rate for the Library MSTU is 0.1912 mils. The fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative millage rate for the Library MSTU is 0.1985 mils. That's a difference of 0.0073 mils, which is a 3.8% increase from the rolled back rate. The fiscal year 2526 rolled back rate for the Stormwater MSTU is 0.0906 mils. The fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative millage rate for the Stormwater MSTU is 0.0941 mils. That's a difference of 0.0035 mils, which is a 3.9% increase from the rolled back rate. The fiscal year 2526 rolled back rate for the total unincorporated area MSTUs is 0.7910 mils. The fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative millage rate for the total unincorporated area MSTUs is 0.8212 mils. That's a difference of 0.0302 mils, which is a 3.8% increase from the rolled back rate. The Rancho Benito MSTU fiscal year 2526 rolled back rate is 8.9594 mils. The fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative millage rate for the Rancho Benito MSTU is 9.1272 mils. That's a difference of 0.1678 mils, which is a 1.9% increase from the rolled back rate. The fiscal year 2526 rolled back rate for all MSTUs in total is 9.7504 mils. The fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative millage rate for all MSTUs in total is 9.9484 mils. That's a difference of 0.1980 mils, and that's a 2.0% increase from the rolled back rate. The ad valorem revenue generated by the fiscal year 2526 rolled back rate for the Parks MSTU is $20,962,893 mils. The ad valorem revenue generated by the fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative millage rate for the Parks MSTU is $21,761,557, which is a 3.8% increase from the rolled back rate. The ad valorem revenue generated by the fiscal year 2526 rolled back rate for the library MSTU is $7,871,377. The ad valorem revenue generated by the fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative millage rate for the library MSTU is $8,171,905, which is a 3.8% increase from the rolled back rate. The ad valorem revenue generated by the fiscal year 2526 rolled back rate for the stormwater MSTU is $3,729,847. The ad valorem revenue generated by the fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative millage rate for the stormwater MSTU is $3,873,936. That's a difference of $144,089, which is a 3.9% increase from the rolled back rate. The ad valorem revenue generated by the fiscal year 2526 rolled back rate for all unincorporated area MSTUs is $32,564,117. The ad valorem revenue generated by the fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative millage rate for all unincorporated area MSTUs is $33,807,398. That's a difference of $1,243,281, which is a 3.8% increase from the rolled back rate. The ad valorem revenue generated by the fiscal year 2526 rolled back rate for the Rancho Benito MSTU is $9,417. The ad valorem revenue generated by the fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative millage rate for the Rancho Benito MSTU is $9,593. That's a difference of $176, which is a 1.9% increase from the rolled back rate. The ad valorem revenue generated by the fiscal year 2526 rolled back rate for all MSTUs in total is $32,573,534. The ad valorem revenue generated by the fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative millage rate for all MSTUs in total is $33,816,991. That's a difference of $1,243,457, which is a 3.8% increase from the rolled back rate. The increase over the rolled back rate is necessary to maintain services within the Parks, Library, and Rancho Benito MSTU funds and to fund upcoming water quality projects and other services related to the NPDES permit as mandated by the Federal Clean Water Act in the Stormwater MSTU. Section C, discuss adopted tentative budget for fiscal year 2526. Item C1, discuss the fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative budget totaling $3,464,631,333. Item C2, discuss the fiscal year 2526 Polk County Parks MSTU adopted tentative budget totaling $46,013,519. The Polk County Library MSTU adopted tentative budget totaling $12,074,224. The Polk County Stormwater MSTU adopted tentative budget totaling $14,370,652. And the Polk County Rancho Benito MSTU adopted tentative budget totaling $67,564.
Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a public hearing. If you wish to come up and speak on the fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative operating budget and millage rates, which include the Parks MSTU, Library MSTU, Stormwater MSTU, and Rancho Benito MSTU, is now the time and I'm not even going to finish up. But seeing none, I will bring it back and go to number E.
All right. For the next two sections, E and F, I will read the staff recommendation and stand for the board to make a motion and an approval. Item E, adopt the final millage rates for fiscal year 2526. Section E1, staff recommends that the board adopt the resolution establishing the fiscal year 2526 operating millage rate of 6.6348 mils, which is a 4.3% increase over the rolled back rate of 6.3607 mils. The Polk County Parks MSTU operating millage rate of 0.5286 mils, which is a 3.8% increase over the rolled back rate of 0.5092 mils. The Polk County Library MSTU operating millage rate of 0.1985 mils, which is a 3.8% increase over the rolled back rate of 0.1912 mils. The Polk County Stormwater MSTU operating millage rate of 0.0941 mils, which is a 3.9% increase over the rolled back rate of 0.0906 mils. And the Polk County Rancho Benito MSTU operating millage rate of 9.1272 mils, which is a 1.9% increase over the rolled, excuse me, over the rolled back rate of 8.9594 mils.
Second. Got a motion and a second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.
Section F, adopt the final budget for fiscal year 2526. Item F1. Staff recommends that the board adopt the resolution that adopts the final budget of $3,464,631,333 for fiscal year 2526. The final budget of $46,013,519 for the Polk County Parks MSTU. The final budget of $12,074,224 for the Polk County Library MSTU. The final budget of $14,370,652 for the Polk County Stormwater MSTU. And the final budget of $67,564 for the Polk County Rancho Benito MSTU. Each of which are included in the fiscal year 2526 adopted tentative budget of $3,464,631,333. The budget packet includes, A, the budget, appropriations, and revenues by cost center. B, the fiscal year 2526 budget changes from adopted fiscal year 2425 to adopted tentative fiscal year 2526. C, the fiscal year 2526 pay plan procedures. D, the fiscal year 2526 position changes. E, the Polk County Sheriff's Office budget by function, i.e. law enforcement, detention, judicial, court security, and debt service. F, Community Investment Program, also known as the Capital Improvement Program, as presented to the board on August 5th, 2025.
Got a motion and a second. All in favor?
Aye.
Opposed? Motion carries.
Mr. Chair, could I say three quick things? You knew I was going to do it. I couldn't help it.
I can't believe you've been quiet this whole time.
Christia, let me say thank you to you and the Budget and Management Division staff. It's been six months. We've gone through a lot of things over the last six months. I want to say stand down because we're going to start this process all over again in about three months. To all the division directors who are here, it means a lot on a personal and a professional level. I think it really shows an outward sign of your support for what we do day in and day out and the board's heavy lift in approving these types of budgets. And last but not least, I wanted to say if the board doesn't know this, Gay Sharp is retiring at the end of October. 30-plus years, Gay, you've been down this road many years. This is your last volley in the budgeting process for county government. I want to say job well done, Gay. Enjoy yourself. We'll be thinking of you this time next year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Yes, I know everybody up here wants to thank everybody. I know it's a lot of hard work, and we thank you. You all make it pretty easy for us every year. And, Gay, we're going to miss you and really are. So, anyway, I think we are adjourned. Thank you, everyone.