Board of County Commissioners (Final Budget)

Polk County Board of County Commissioners (Final Budget) Meeting Minutes - Final September 15, 2025 Public Hearing on FY 25/26 Final Budget In accordance with the American with Disabilities Act, persons with disabilities needing special accommodations to participate in this proceeding should contact the Communications Office not later than 48 hours prior to the proceeding. Their office is located in the County Administration Building, 330 West Church Street in Bartow. Telephone (863) 534-6090 or TTY (863) 534-7777. If hearing impaired dial 7-1-1 for Florida Relay services or call (800) 955-8771 (TTY); dial (800) 955-1339 if you are using a computer. Any invocation that may be offered before the official start of the Commission meeting shall be the voluntary offering of a private citizen, to and for the benefit of the Commission. The views or beliefs expressed by the invocation speaker have not been previously reviewed or approved by the Commission, and the Commission is not allowed by law to endorse the religious beliefs or views of this, or any other speaker. If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the board with respect to any matter considered at such meeting or hearing, he or she will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purpose, he or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. 2nd Hearing - Adopt FY25-26 Budget Rollcall Commissioner Becky Troutman, Commissioner Rick Wilson, Commissioner Bill Braswell, Commissioner Martha Santiago, and Commissioner Michael Scott Present CALL TO ORDER (RICK WILSON, CHAIR) A. PURPOSE OF PUBLIC HEARING (RANDY MINK, COUNTY ATTORNEY) A.1. Discuss the purpose of the Public Hearing for the FY 25/26 Budget Minutes: County Attorney Randy Mink discussed the purpose of the public hearing. B. DISCUSS ADOPTED TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATES FOR FY 25/26 (CHRISTIA JOHNSON, BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR) B.1. Discuss the FY 25/26 Board of County Commissioners adopted tentative operating millage rate. Minutes: Budget and Management Director Christia Johnson discussed the items on the agenda for the adopted tentative millage rate and the tentative budget. She said the adopted FY 25/26 tentative millage rate is 6.6348 mills with no difference. She reviewed the rolled-back rates. B.2. Discuss the FY 25/26 adopted tentative millage rate for the Polk County Parks Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU), Polk County Library MSTU, Polk County Stormwater MSTU, and Polk County Rancho Bonito MSTU. Page 1 of 4 Minutes: Budget and Management Director Christia Johnson discussed the adopted tentative millage rate of 0.5286 mills for the Polk County Parks Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU), the adopted tentative millage rate of 0.1985 mills for the Polk County Library MSTU, the adopted tentative millage rate of 0.0941 mills for the Polk County Stormwater MSTU, and the adopted tentative millage rate of 9.1272 mills for the Polk County Rancho Bonito MSTU. She reviewed the rolled-back rates and the generated ad valorem revenue. C. DISCUSS ADOPTED TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR FY 25/26 (CHRISTIA JOHNSON, BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR) C.1. Discuss the FY 25/26 adopted tentative budget totaling $3,464,631,333. Minutes: Budget and Management Director Christia Johnson said the FY 25/26 adopted tentative budget totals $3,464,631,333. C.2. Discuss the FY 25/26 Polk County Parks MSTU adopted tentative budget totaling $46,013,519, Polk County Library MSTU adopted tentative budget totaling $12,074,224, Polk County Stormwater MSTU adopted tentative budget totaling $14,370,652, and Polk County Rancho Bonito MSTU adopted tentative budget totaling $67,564. Minutes: Budget and Management Director Christia Johnson discussed the FY 25/26 Polk County Parks MSTU adopted tentative budget totaling $46,013,519, the Polk County Library MSTU adopted tentative budget totaling $12,074,224, Polk County Stormwater MSTU adopted tentative budget totaling $14,370,652, and the Polk County Rancho Bonito MSTU adopted tentative budget totaling $67,564. D. PUBLIC HEARING ON FY 25/26 ADOPTED TENTATIVE BUDGET AND MILLAGE RATES (RICK WILSON, CHAIR) D.1. Requests from the public to speak in regard to the FY 25/26 adopted tentative operating budget and millage rates, which include the Parks MSTU, Library MSTU, Stormwater MSTU, and Rancho Bonito MSTU. Minutes: The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke. E. ADOPT THE FINAL MILLAGE RATES FOR FY 25/26 E.1. Recommend Board adopt the resolution establishing the FY 25/26 operating millage rate of 6.6348 mills, which is a 4.3% increase over the rolled-back rate of 6.3607 mills; the Polk County Parks MSTU operating millage rate of 0.5286 mills, which is a 3.8% increase over the rolled-back rate of 0.5092 mills; the Polk County Library MSTU operating millage rate of 0.1985 mills, which is a 3.8% increase over the rolled-back rate of 0.1912 mills; the Polk County Stormwater MSTU operating millage rate of 0.0941 mills, which is a 3.9% increase over the rolled-back rate of 0.0906, and the Polk County Rancho Bonito MSTU operating millage rate of 9.1272 mills, which is a 1.9% increase over the rolled-back rate of 8.9594 mills. Page 2 of 4 Minutes: Budget and Management Director Christia Johnson recommend the Board adopt the resolution establishing the FY 25/26 operating millage rate of 6.6348 mills which is a 4.3% increase over the rolled-back rate of 6.3607 mills, the Polk County Parks MSTU operating millage rate of 0.5286 mills which is a 3.8% increase over the rolled-back rate of 0.5092 mills, the Polk County Library MSTU operating millage rate of 0.1985 mills which is a 3.8% increase over the rolled-back rate of 0.1912 mills, the Polk County Stormwater MSTU operating millage rate of 0.0941 mills which is a 3.9% increase over the rolled-back rate of 0.0906, and the Polk County Rancho Bonito MSTU operating millage rate of 9.1272 mills which is a 1.9% increase over the rolled-back rate of 8.9594 mills. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Bill Braswell SECONDER: Michael Scott AYE: Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott F. ADOPT THE FINAL BUDGET RATES FOR FY 25/26 F.1. Recommend Board adopt the resolution that adopts the final budget of $3,464,631,333 for FY 25/26, 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 Bonito MSTU, each of which are included in the FY 25/26 adopted tentative budget of $3,464,631,333. Minutes: Budget and Management Director Christia Johnson Board recommended that the Board adopt the resolution that adopts the final budget of $ 3,464,631,333 for FY 25/26, 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 Bonito MSTU, each of which are included in the FY 25/26 adopted tentative budget of $3,464,631,333. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Martha Santiago SECONDER: Becky Troutman AYE: Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott ADJOURNMENT (RICK WILSON, CHAIR) Minutes: County Manager Bill Beasley thanked Christia Johnson and the Budget and Management staff. He said we have gone through a lot of things over the last six months. He thanked all the division directors in attendance and said it means a lot on a personal and professional level and it shows support for what we do day in and day out. He said that Parks and Natural Resources Director Gaye Sharpe is retiring in October after 30 plus years. He said job well done and to enjoy herself. Chair Wilson said it is a lot of hard work and they make it easy for them. He said we will miss Ms. Sharpe. Page 3 of 4 Meeting adjourned at 6:21 p.m. Page 4 of 4