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Apopka City Budget FY2024/25

Breaking News: City Council tables millage rate vote until July 17th meeting

A proposed $97.8 million general fund budget is a 14.4% increase

Posted

The Apopka City Council tabled the decision to approve the tentative millage rate for the FY24/25 budget until its July 17th meeting.

Apopka City Administrator Jacob Smith and Finance Director Blanche Sherman proposed a millage increase to 4.4376. According to Sherman, $8.1 million was transferred from its reserves, which stand at approximately $23-24 million after the transfer, to balance the budget.

General reserve spending has increased by 14.4% since the last budget. The proposed millage rate would end a streak of three straight years at 4.1876.

Because of an ongoing contract negotiation with the Apopka Professional Firefighters Association and several proposed spending initiatives by the Council, Commissioner Alexander Smith suggested raising the millage rate to 4.6876. However, the Council gained a consensus to table the decision until staff could determine the amount of the additional spending.

The vote preceded three days of budget workshops. The final votes will come in September when two budget hearings will be held to ratify the millage rate and budget.

This is breaking news and will be updated in a future edition of The Apopka Voice.

Apopka City Council, Apopka City Budget FY24/25, Apopka, Millage Rate, What is the total Apopka budget amount?

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  • MamaMia

    I watched the budget meeting today, and the special millage setting meeting, and it was like the blind leading the blind. Since it was tabled, what was the purpose of discussing it today, and advertising it, as for the purpose of setting the millage meeting, cause y'all didn't? Commissioner Smith just grabbed a figure out of the sky, I suppose, as none of you all even listened to the finance director, and the new city administrator's millage proposal. Commissioner Velazquez's microphone was off, or she wasn't speaking directly into it. She is concerned that they all need to vote 5-O in agreement, for "the good of the city", and yet no one knows the outcome yet? When have they voted 5-O lately, for "the good of city"on anything?..and of course, Nesta's sitting there like a jumping jack, just can't wait to increase our taxes!

    Wednesday, July 10 Report this

  • MamaMia

    Even worse news than an increased millage rate hike, that is in the works to pay for the union firefighter contract outcome, and additional street work, now they are saying the 10 percent increase we have been paying this year on water, sewer, and re-use water is not enough. The finance director stated it would take a 40 percent increase of utility water rates to balance that budget! All this increase will start Oct. 1, 2024, if that is what they have up their sleeves. Oh, but the water rate study guy will be back before then, to present his "the sky is falling" news. They need to keep that guy away from the city hall, he is bad news, every time he comes to the city, we pay more! Guess, I'll do like they do in Hawaii, where everyone has a rain barrel next to their house. If they vote this in, and I pray they don't, Oct. 1, there are going to be some really high water bills for everyone, and they have been increasing the water rates every year compounding the amounts. Mayor Land never did that yearly! Mayor Joe K. started increasing the rates every year, and now look, OMG! I'm not sure, I believe what they said, as the utility water department always was a money maker for the city. 2000 to 3000 meters stopped? There's a part of the problem. That guy that had the 2700.00 water bill...think about an additional 40 percent added. Where is the Florida Public Service Commission when you need em'? And all these outrageous home insurance, and vehicle insurance

    Wednesday, July 10 Report this

  • MamaMia

    The city did not need an economic developer, and economic development department. Money wasted! However, we have it, so we are stuck with it, and now the one who pushed so hard for it, is gone to greener pastures...We don't even need a CRA director either! Stop dreaming up needs for forensic audits for political revenge! I almost fell out when I heard the cost for a pool design, $200,000, is what I heard, and then the actual cost of the pool to be constructed, which I didn't hear, but one member of the public guessing maybe a million dollars....I don't think so! Oh, and the cost quoted to redo the roof on the old packing house on Lust Road, over a million...OMG! Don't go there! A pool would be nice, but will we, the public, who will pay for it, ever get to use it, or will it be mostly for the school students, or camping kids? Sorry, but I couldn't care less, if it needs to be built to accommodate water polo which needs a newer deeper pool!!! Let Orange County build the school kids a pool! You all need to donate your discretionary funds back to the general funds. Get a grip on all the stopped meters, back off the history museum improvements, just the needed log replacements, and stop voting (all of you all) to giving back impact fees to developers! There's lots more, but that would be a great start! The finance director suggested CUTS! I can't believe Commissioner Smith wants to hire a company to come in and clean inside the fire stations! Why? The fire personnel are always present! Also, I can't believe they are now going to hire a company to check the fire hydrants and flush them, instead of like traditionally, our firemen doing that to check them. I'm not certain, at this time, of pouring money into the Main Street program, is a great idea either, if we have more important needs that are " got to haves" such as fire trucks, ambulances, etc. We don't need the gazebo in the city cemetery, if that is the price either! What was it, a $ 150,000? I can't see that kind of need for that amount of money.

    Thursday, July 11 Report this