The City of Leesburg adopted a final millage rate of 3.4752 mills per $1,000 and approved its fiscal year 2025–26 budget at the Sept. 22 commission meeting, after a public hearing with no speakers.

City finance staff told the commission the proposed millage of 3.4752 mills is 4.89% higher than the current‑year rollback rate of 3.3131. "The millage rate to be levied 3.4752 mills per 1,000," Finance staff noted during the presentation, adding that the tentative millage had been approved at the Sept. 11 meeting.

The commission then voted to adopt the final millage and to adopt the FY2025–26 budget. Commissioners recorded at least one dissent on the millage and budget votes: a roll call recorded Commissioner Pinell voting "No" on the millage and Commissioner Conell recording a "No" vote on the final budget, citing the millage rate.

Alongside the budget adoption the commission approved two targeted amendments to CRA budgets that staff recommended earlier in the meeting. The Carver Heights Montclair Area CRA was amended to include $150,000 to update its CRA master plan; the Greater Leesburg CRA was amended for a one‑time $15,100 seed allocation to help restart the Downtown Leesburg Business Association (DLBA). A staff roll call on the proposed amendments recorded several "Yes" votes and one recorded "No" from Commissioner Conell; the amendments were approved and will be incorporated into the adopted FY2025–26 budget.

Why it matters: the adopted millage sets property tax rates for the coming fiscal year; the CRA amendments direct one‑time and planning funds toward downtown economic development and a CRA master plan update for the Carver Heights Montclair area.

Votes at a glance
- Resolution adopting final millage (3.4752 mills per $1,000): adopted after public hearing (no public speakers). Recorded roll calls show at least one dissent (Commissioner Pinell voted No).
- Resolution adopting FY2025–26 budget: adopted. Commissioner Conell recorded a No vote, citing the millage rate.
- Amendment to Carver Heights Montclair CRA budget (add $150,000 for master plan update): approved by commission roll call.
- Amendment to Greater Leesburg CRA budget (one‑time $15,100 to DLBA): approved by commission roll call.

Context and next steps: staff and commissioners noted the tentative millage had been set July 14 and the budget documents had been prepared using the adopted millage. The CRA amendments were added by motion prior to final budget adoption; administrative staff will implement the line‑item changes and proceed with contracting or grant processes for the master plan update and the DLBA seed grant.

Source excerpts from the meeting transcript are available for each recorded item.