The City Commission of Lakeland adopted a $815,000,000 fiscal year 2026 budget and approved the city's millage ordinance by unanimous vote during the adoption public hearing.

City Manager Lisonbee Reeves opened the hearing by outlining the multi-month process that led to the adoption, saying, "welcome to tonight's adoption public hearing of our fiscal year 2026 budget," and noting the commission had logged more than 14 hours of public workshops and hearings on the budget plus additional one-on-one meetings with staff.

The adopted budget projects property value growth of 6.84% for fiscal year 2026 and assumes 6% growth in fiscal years 2027 and 2028. The commission approved a millage rate of 5.4323 mils, a rate the city has maintained since fiscal year 2022. Reeves noted that maintaining that millage while providing services amid inflation and population growth reflects extensive staff and commission work.

Finance Director Mike Brosart described the budget breakdown, saying the total includes a $191,000,000 general fund and that the electric utility accounts for about 56% of the total budget, though roughly $179,000,000 of that is pass-through fuel and purchased power costs. Brosart said property-tax revenue in the general fund is about $62,000,000 and that police accounts for roughly $66,000,000 (about 36% of the general fund); police and fire together represent about 53% of the general fund.

Reeves and Brosart presented the city's projected days-cash-on-hand for the general fund: 79 days in FY26, 64 days in FY27 and 46 days in FY28. Reeves said those figures are projections and subject to change with valuation updates and other factors.

Commissioner discussion focused on staff and departmental work to find efficiencies. Commissioner Melissa Madden praised the staff and city manager for the budget process and said it showed fiscal discipline: "it is a huge document with lots of line items, but each of you in this room took the time to gather the information, talk to your teams, find efficiencies wherever you could."

During public comment a resident who identified herself as Allison described heavy use of the new Lakeland City Library and asked why the library operating budget appeared reduced compared with the prior year. Finance staff and a city representative answered that fiscal year 2025 included elevated capital spending for the main library and cultural center and that the FY26 operating and capital budgets for the library were not cut overall. Brosart summarized budget numbers for comparison: the library budget was about $3.4 million in FY24 and about $3.8 million in FY26; the FY25 amount had been inflated by capital projects.

A question about a roughly $50,000 increase for cemetery services was raised; finance staff did not identify a specific line item during the hearing and indicated the change was not immediately clear in that moment.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 25-032: An ordinance establishing the millage rate for the City of Lakeland for the fiscal year commencing Oct. 1, 2025 and ending Sept. 30, 2026. Millage set at 5.4323 mils (4.1% greater than the rollback rate of 5.2185). Outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). Commissioner Musick recorded "Aye." (roll-call continued; motion seconded and passed unanimously.)

- Ordinance 25-033: An ordinance providing appropriations for the City of Lakeland for the fiscal year commencing Oct. 1, 2025 and ending Sept. 30, 2026 (the budget ordinance). Outcome: approved (unanimous roll call).

City commission compensation

The commission discussed charter-mandated, across-the-board adjustments tied to general employee raises. Under the automatic 2% increase provided to general employees, the mayor's pay would increase from $50,181.82 to $51,185.46 and commissioners' pay from $33,454.55 to $34,123.64. No additional action or public hearing was requested, so no separate vote was taken.

What this means going forward

Commissioners and staff emphasized that the adopted budget keeps the city's reserve policy intact while funding strategic priorities, including infrastructure investment. The budget document and adopted ordinances set the city's fiscal plan for Oct. 1, 2025 through Sept. 30, 2026. Staff said work will continue to finalize actuals and close FY25 numbers, and that some small ordinance-level adjustments discovered during close-out did not change the bottom line and therefore did not require a separate appropriation or second reading.

The meeting adjourned after public comment and the vote on the budget and millage ordinances.