Sept. 11 – City Council has given tentative approval to hold the millage rate, which is used to calculate property tax, at 6.4525 for fiscal year 2026, unchanged from last year, with public safety absorbing nearly all revenue earned from property tax.
The millage rate may not move, but rising property values do – and that likely means higher bills for some homeowners in 2026. Taxable values climbed 4.93 percent to nearly $37 billion, so the city will collect $229 million in property taxes, up $10.4 million from last year.
Public safety dominates the budget at $218.8 million – more than half the city’s general fund and almost the entire property tax revenue. Police get $170.5 million; Fire and Rescue, $48.3 million.
By comparison, housing and neighborhood services total $9.6 million. The two Community Redevelopment Areas add up to $26.9 million. The Local Housing Assistance Fund sits at $2.6 million. Infrastructure improvements – including stormwater, streets and other capital needs – total about $58.4 million. Safety spending may be dominant, but the fire department budget (less than a third of the police’s) was too lean for Council Member Gina Driscoll.
Writing on Poliverse ahead of the meeting, Driscoll said the fire department is being asked “to do more with less,” pointing to cuts in the bunker gear fund, breathing equipment, cadet positions and its lone public information officer. “The cost of underfunding it will be measured not only in property loss but in lives,” she wrote.
Driscoll restated her concerns during the meeting, but some officials pushed back, one saying the fire department currently has “enough to replace the bunker gear now if we need to.” They have “five to six years” to replace the breathing apparatus, the official said. “By skipping this year we thought it was a unique way to not interfere with operations [and save money].”
As for the cadet program, Fire Chief Keith Watts explained the department is focusing on candidates with experience and certification. Extending from Watts’ statement, Council Member Richie Floyd added: “I think the fire department still has what it needs to move forward, and they were probably collaborative in choosing how the funds would be done this year.”
Despite counters from her colleagues, Driscoll voted “no” on the tentative budget. “I don’t feel comfortable at this time with the level of funding we have in front of us for the Fire Department. That is so important to me that I will not be able to support this budget,” she said. “I respect everyone’s opinions on this, and I hope you respect mine, and I look forward to continuing our discussions as we move forward with whatever budget we end up with.”
Council will take a final vote Sept. 25; the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.