SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Seminole County’s proposed $1.2 billion budget comes with possible tax hikes as it finds ways to maintain services, keep up with capital projects, and prepare the county for future financial needs.
A draft posted online for FY 2025-26 shows the following revenue adjustments for the upcoming year:
- A 0.5 mill increase to the countywide property tax rate
- An increase of the Local Option Gas Tax from 6 cents to 11 cents per gallon, bringing Seminole County in line with every surrounding Central Florida county
- An increase to the Utility Services Tax in unincorporated areas, applied to electricity, natural gas, and water services
County Manager Darren Gray writes in his budget message that the county needs additional revenue to sustain services, despite some cost-saving measures and internal restructuring staff have been working on to balance the budget.
“Cost containment alone could not close the gap without affecting critical public safety operations or weakening the County’s financial foundation,” he said.
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Among the three proposed tax hikes, the property tax rate increase — or millage rate — would be the most noticeable to Seminole County residents. Staff are suggesting a 0.5 mill increase for the first time in nearly 30 years.
Chairman Jay Zembower says it’s something they don’t take lightly.
“It’s a serious discussion,” Zembower said. “I would say our work sessions, which we’re just kicking off, there’s going to be some pretty, pretty hot topics and pretty heated discussions happening on what are priorities or things that have to be done.”
Zembower gave the following example to our News 6 team to showcase what changes families could see if the proposed mill increase is passed. He said that an average $400,000 home would have a tax increase of around $144 a year.
“Everybody’s costs are going up,” Zembower said. “So, take that, put it on steroids to a $1 billion budget. At the county level, our costs have been going up for 5 to 6 years, but we stayed status quo. Now, we’re going to be starting to dig into our reserves this upcoming year, which is going to be a problem.”
Zembower also said the county must plan ahead for uncertainty at the federal level too, as budget cuts continue.
“With the current administration not telling us exactly what’s going to happen with FEMA money, we’ve got to be prepared for that as well. We’re coming into hurricane season,” Zembower said.
Sixty-eight percent of the county’s Ad Valorem funds are dedicated to public safety, which supports the sheriff’s office, fire department, 911 services and animal services.
The county says revenue generated from the tax hikes will maintain law enforcement services, fire operations, and emergency management operations, including disaster response.
There are also investment priorities the commission must consider, including the launch of a new micro-transit service, the construction of an indoor sports facility, the redevelopment of Rolling Hills Community Park, flooding mitigation in Midway, and the construction of a community center at the site of the Rosenwald school in east Altamonte.
Zembower says if they don’t add revenue, which is what county staff is proposing, then they will have to find places to make cuts.
“But we want to maintain the quality of life here in Seminole County that our citizens have come to deserve and quite honestly should have,” Zembower said.
Seminole County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Grant Maloy just launched a new online tool called the “Open Checkbook” portal. It allows the public to see exactly where tax dollars are being spent by Seminole County government, the supervisor of elections, and the clerk of court, and comptroller.
The proposed budget will be discussed in an upcoming work session at 9:30 a.m. on June 17. The meeting is open to the public. There will be several workshops this summer before a final decision is made.