SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Adopt a tentative millage rate of 0.9700 mills for fiscal year 2026/2027 and set public hearing dates on the millage and budget for September 15, 2026, and September 21, 2026, at 5:15 p.m.
Body
SUMMARY:
In accordance with the Truth in Millage (TRIM) process, the Downtown Development Board must adopt a tentative millage rate and set public hearing dates prior to finalizing and adopting a budget. This information must be provided to the Pinellas County Property Appraiser and Tax Collector by July 28, 2026. The DDB’s proposed millage rate and public hearing dates will be included on the TRIM notices mailed to taxpayers in August. This tentative rate cannot be increased without first-class mailing notification to each taxpayer at the expense of the Downtown Development Board, not less than ten days and not more than 15 days before the public hearing.
The recommended millage rate is 0.9700 mills, the same as the current year. This rate is 0.65% more than the rolled back rate of 0.9637 mills. The rolled-back rate is the millage rate that will provide the DDB with the same property tax revenue as was levied in the prior year. If the proposed millage rate of 0.9700 mills is adopted, the DDB’s resolution adopting the millage rate will reflect a 0.65% increase from the rolled-back rate of 0.9637 mills.
The proposed millage rate as well as other TRIM millage rates will be noted on the 2026 compliance forms as follows:
0.9700 mills - Tentative millage rate
0.9637 mills - Rolled-back millage rate
0.9637 mills - Maximum majority vote rate
1.0601 mills - Maximum two-thirds vote rate
At the DDB Meeting scheduled for Monday, August 3, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. will discuss the proposed budget.