After weeks of debate and two special meetings, the Apopka City Commission on Thursday approved a tentative fiscal year 2026-27 operating millage rate of 4.6761 mills, a 0.2385-mill increase over the city’s current rate of 4.4376 mills. 

The commission approved the tentative rate in a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Nadia Anderson casting the lone dissenting vote. The adopted rate is 10% above the rollback rate of 4.2510 mills. 

The commission also scheduled its tentative budget hearing for 5:15 p.m. Sept. 3 at City Hall. 

The commission had postponed setting the tentative rate during a special meeting Monday after failing to reach agreement on a proposed increase. 

Before Thursday’s vote, commissioners again debated the city’s infrastructure needs, proposed staffing additions and the level of detail provided to the public about the proposed budget. 

Commissioners supporting the increase said the city is attempting to catch up on infrastructure and operational needs that have accumulated as Apopka has grown and kept the property tax rate relatively low. They argued additional recurring revenue is needed as growth-related revenues slow. 

Mayor Nick Nesta said setting the tentative rate is only one step in the budget process and defended the city’s approach, saying commissioners and residents have had access to budget information for months. 

“This commission has never been more transparent about the budget process than it has been this year,” Nesta said. “The time to do it started months ago.” 

Nesta said many requested positions are intended to support infrastructure improvements, arguing that projects cannot be completed without sufficient personnel. 

“I can buy concrete all day, but if I don’t have the staff members there to lay it properly … we’ll never be able to provide what the residents are asking for,” he said. 

Commissioner Sam Ruth said he still preferred the larger 0.75‑mill increase discussed during budget talks because he believes it would give the city more flexibility to tackle long‑neglected infrastructure needs. However, he said he was willing to support a lower tentative rate to move the budget process forward, while continuing to scrutinize spending. 

“I think we’ve got a board that’s ready to take a deep dive and really look under the hood,” Ruth said. “There has to be a conversation where we can get to a point today with a number that we can all work with.” 

Commissioner Yesenia Baron echoed that sentiment, saying commissioners ultimately would have to decide which expenditures were necessary while investing in the city’s future. 

“We’re either going to pay now or we’re going to pay later,” Baron said. “We cannot continue doing exactly what we’re doing and expecting a different result.” 

Anderson remained firmly opposed, arguing commissioners should identify spending reductions before asking residents to pay higher property taxes. She questioned proposed administrative positions and said taxpayers should receive more detailed information about how additional revenue would be spent. 

“I don’t believe in blank checks,” Anderson said. “I believe in transparency.” 

Later in the meeting, Anderson said many residents are struggling financially and deserve greater accountability before paying more in taxes. 

“When we’re talking about spending people’s money and raising our taxes, we need to be fiscally responsible with it, and we need to let them know what they’re spending their money on,” she said. 

Residents who addressed the commission expressed similarly divided views. 

Resident Rod Olsen urged commissioners to set a higher tentative rate while continuing to review departmental budgets before adopting the final budget. 

“Approving a tentative 0.75 millage rate is not the final score,” Olsen said. “It is simply the first day of training camp.” 

Others supported a smaller increase or called for additional spending cuts. Matthew Hutchinson said residents generally recognize the city needs more revenue but want specifics about how the additional money would be spent. 

“I think where the disconnect is, if you go up with the millage, what are you going to attack?” Hutchinson said. “I keep hearing [about] pipes. We need new pipes. So if that’s the case, then I want to know that that money is going to the pipes.” 

The city’s proposed tax rate steadily declined throughout the budget process. Finance staff initially presented a 5.4376-mill rate during the July 8 budget workshop before commissioners expressed support for a lower 5.1876-mill proposal. Staff later recommended 4.9376 mills for Thursday’s meeting before commissioners ultimately approved the 4.6761-mill rate. 

The tentative millage rate establishes the maximum property tax rate the city can adopt. Commissioners may lower the rate before adopting the final budget in September but cannot raise it without repeating the Truth in Millage (TRIM) notification process. 

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional information.