SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve a tentative millage rate of 5.8850 mills for fiscal year 2026/27 and set public hearing dates on the budget for September 15, 2026, and September 21, 2026, to be held at 6:00 pm.
Body
SUMMARY:
In accordance with the Truth in Millage (TRIM) process, the City Council 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 City'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 City of Clearwater, not less than 10 days and not more than 15 days before the public hearing.
The City Manager's recommended millage rate is 5.8850 mills, the same as the current year. This rate is 0.13% more than the rolled-back rate of 5.8773 mills. The rolled-back rate is the millage rate that will provide the City with the same property tax revenue as was levied in the prior year. If the proposed millage rate of 5.8850 mills is adopted, the City's ordinance adopting the millage rate will reflect an 0.13% increase from the rolled-back rate of 5.8773 mills.
The proposed millage rate as well as other TRIM millage rates will be noted on the 2026 compliance forms as follows:
5.8850 mills - Tentative millage rate
5.8773 mills - Rolled-back millage rate
5.8773 mills - Maximum majority vote rate
6.4650 mills - Maximum two-thirds vote rate
A special budget work session is scheduled for Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 1:30 pm to fully discuss the proposed budget.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
The budgeting process aligns resource allocation to the advancement of our community in all five strategic priorities: high performing government, economic and housing opportunity, community well-being, environmental stewardship, and superior public service.
