BROOKSVILLE — Brooksville City Council members agreed July 27 to build next year’s budget around the current property tax rate of 6.5 mills, but signaled the rate could fall before a final vote. They also spent much of a three-hour meeting pressing city staff to defend raises, new hires and other spending.
The proposed budget is balanced at 6.5 mills, which is slightly below the city’s rolled-back rate of 6.5078 mills, the rate that would raise the same amount of property tax revenue as last year. One mill equals $1 in tax for every $1,000 of taxable property value.
Only four of the council’s five members attended, and Mayor Christa Tanner said she was reluctant to change the millage with Council member Louis Hallal absent.
“Every dollar we spend was earned by someone who expects us to spend it wisely,” Council member Betty Erhard said near the end of the meeting.
Erhard said she wants to get closer to 6.2 mills as the council works through the budget, preserving essential services while hunting for efficiencies rather than “accepting higher spending as the new normal.”
Three residents spoke during public comment. One, a woman who regularly attends local government meetings and declines to give her name, citing state law, urged the council to adopt a rate of 5.7047 mills and said the proposed 6.5 mills conceals a 13.23% tax increase residents cannot afford.
Finance Director Autumn Sullivan said later, during the council’s discussion of the millage, that 5.7047 was the rolled-back rate for 2025. This year’s is 6.5078.
The same resident said the city is wasting money and should drop the 2% merit raises it plans to award on top of 2% cost-of-living increases for all employees, arguing the money comes from taxpayers struggling to keep their homes.
She also criticized Public Works Director Richard Weeks’ request to hire an assistant, asking how much the position would pay. Weeks has said he needs the help, and he has asked for additional staff at the water treatment plant, which he said will require 24-hour coverage.
Those jobs are paid for with enterprise funds rather than general fund tax revenue, Weeks said. Reminded that enterprise funds also come from residents, who have no choice but to pay for water, sewer and sanitation, Weeks said he understands the distinction.
“I understand that it’s taxpayer money by the person paying for the fee, but you have to understand you’re paying for a service, regardless,” he said. “You need water, you need sewer, you need sanitation. You’re paying for a service. We cannot provide this service for free, and unfortunately when inflation does go up, the cost of everything rises.”
Tanner returned repeatedly to the November ballot measure that could cut deeply into city property tax revenue.
Staff spent much of the meeting explaining and defending spending plans, at times conceding a request would not fit in the coming budget year. Tanner closed by saying she likes the direction the council is heading.
The next budget meeting is set for 5:01 p.m. Sept. 9, followed by a 6 p.m. session Sept. 23.
On the web:
A list of job openings with the city is at https://www.cityofbrooksville.us/161/Employment