Plant City keeps 5.7157 millage rate as city manager warns of $11 million shortfall

Editorial graphic by Plant City Community Website. Illustrative blurred community background: Wesley Chapel, Florida (August 2024), LittleT889 / Wikimedia Commons (CC0). Photo source · License

Plant City property owners will pay a city tax rate of 5.7157 mills next year. The City Commission adopted the final 2026 millage rate 5-0 at its end-of-month meeting, along with the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget, according to the Plant City Observer's account of the meeting, which began at 6 p.m. and adjourned at 8:02 p.m.

City Manager Bill McDaniel told commissioners that the general fund totals $70,780,287 — less than half of the overall budget, and mostly funded by taxes. One full mill of the rate is set aside for street resurfacing and related maintenance, and taxable property value is up about 9% this year.

Two items funded at the budget meeting

Item	Cost	Details
Two Vaughn chopper pumps, Lift Station 39	$119,172	Station serves about 500 homes and two schools; existing pumps over 20 years old
Fire Station No. 1 roof replacement	$121,197.86 city share	FEMA agreed to $120,000; roof carries a 20-year warranty

Source: plantcityobserver.com

The shortfall and the November ballot

McDaniel said the city is currently about $11 million short in funding. If state Amendment 3 passes in November, he said, that gap would grow by roughly $6 million, and by about $8 million within two years. Kilton said passage would mean a smaller general fund budget and noted that property taxes already are not covering the public safety budget.

The rate itself is not new. In July, Finance Director Jennifer Forsberg told the commission that city property values had risen 9.3% and that the rate was holding at 5.7 mills, with $1 million dedicated to street improvements, resurfacing and maintenance. Kilton said at that meeting the city resurfaced 85% of its roads over the prior year.

Two infrastructure purchases approved the same night

The commission also signed off on two equipment and repair items. Lift Station 39's existing pumps are more than 20 years old, and the utilities department asked for two replacements. At Fire Station No. 1, the roof separated from its panels during Hurricane Milton and insulation was pulled out; water still gets through the seams in heavy rain.

Public comment, the police data breach and the election date

Residents used public comment to raise data centers, the police department data breach, flooding, homelessness and graffiti at Walden Lake's old clubhouse. On the breach, McDaniel said the matter is an ongoing Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation and that the city is not in a position to comment.

Commissioners separately approved, 5-0, a charter amendment ordinance moving the date of regular municipal elections to avoid a Memorial Day conflict. One resident asked whether the city could align its election with state elections to boost local turnout. Commissioner Mathis and McDaniel also reminded residents that campaign signs belong only on private property and that signs on public property will likely be removed.