From Staff Reports
The Apopka City Council on Wednesday voted to give final approval to its 2025–26 budget and millage rate. The vote marked the conclusion of a months-long process that included three summer workshops, a tentative budget vote earlier this month.
At the first budget hearing on September 3rd, the council voted 4-0 to approve the city’s tentative spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year. Commissioner Nick Nesta abstained from the vote, citing a conflict of interest involving a nonprofit organization connected to the budget. At the September 17th meeting, he abstained again.
"Before we jump into that, and just as a follow-up to my recusal on September 3rd, 2025, and based on communication with our counsel Cliff Shepherd, I will be recusing myself to ensure there are no perceived conflicts of interest, which there are none, with Main Street Apopka," Nesta said.
In addition to adopting the tentative budget, the council voted 5-0 to lower the property tax rate from 4.6876 to 4.4376 mills. That reduction, though modest, represents an effort by the City Council to provide some relief to residents after a rate increase to utility bills.
The total budget is $235.7 million, while the general fund budget is $108.9 million. The reserves stand at approximately $30 million.
But during public comments, one resident expressed his frustrations with this budget.
"Garbage in, garbage out budget process," said Apopka resident Rod Olsen. "Our budget process is a joke. Commissioners and citizens lack timely information to dissect, ask questions, and make informed decisions. It does not go unnoticed that the Finance Director, acting City Administrator, or Mayor present different numbers and all look at each other to either affirm, confirm, or be in surprise. If you come to these meetings, you'll see it for yourself. When you only see the camera from YouTube, you don't see the reactions. Last year, due to the failure of the city to budget properly, everyone could anticipate budget amendments at every City Council meeting, as it had happened last year, uh, this past year. When I say your failure, you include everyone in the City of Apopka, every resident. You allow those in the dais to continue to mismanage our city operations, fail to finance and budget properly, and you don't speak up and show up. You need to speak up and show up."
The new budget begins on October 1st.
