SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Seminole County officials have unveiled a proposed Fiscal Year 2026/27 budget totaling approximately $1.3 billion that is focused on managing rising costs while continuing to invest in public safety, infrastructure, and essential services.
This year, that planning comes with an unusual backdrop: a proposed budget that is, by most measures, steady and conservative — yet overshadowed by a statewide ballot measure that could dramatically reshape county finances starting in 2028.
The county’s capital and operating budget — excluding interfund transfers and reserves — totals $836.2 million, a 4.9% increase from the prior fiscal year.
Unlike last year, when Seminole County raised its property tax rate for the first time in more than a decade, the county is not planning a rate increase in FY27.
Sustaining, not cutting — for now
When asked how to characterize the FY27 spending plan, Chairman Andria Herr did not hesitate.
“I’d like to see us be a sustaining year, but take advantage of natural attrition that will cause cuts,” she said. “And I’d like to see us not build into the future, future spending that we may or may not have the revenue for.”
The budget reflects that approach. County Manager Darren Gray credited department heads and constitutional officers for embracing the conservative direction set by the BCC early in the process.
“I want to acknowledge the efforts of our Constitutional Officers and County departments, who embraced that direction and submitted lean, responsible budget requests,” Gray wrote in the budget summary.
General Fund departmental budgets increase 4.5%, driven by rising personnel costs, operational expenses, deferred maintenance, and capital needs. Major operating funds — including Fire Rescue, Solid Waste, Water Utilities, Transportation, Tourism, and Building Services — remain stable, with increases generally capped at 5% or less.
Public safety commands nearly half the budget
Public safety remains the county’s top expenditure priority, accounting for approximately 46% of the operating and capital budget.
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office FY27 certified budget totals $202,607,000 — a 3.8% increase over the current fiscal year. Personnel services, which make up approximately 85% of the Sheriff’s total budget, increased 4.0%, while operating and capital expenditures combined rose 2.9%.
For every property tax dollar collected, 41 cents supports the Sheriff’s Office, and 31 cents funds Fire Rescue, Emergency Medical Services, and dispatch operations. Eleven cents goes toward transportation infrastructure, 5 cents supports parks and libraries, and the remaining 12 cents funds other county operations, including the courts, constitutional officers, and the Board of County Commissioners.
Laying groundwork for what’s ahead
Even with FY27 on stable footing, Herr said the county has already begun taking steps to prepare for potential future reductions — most notably by keeping a close eye on staffing levels.
“We’re asking about FTE — not growing the underlying cost of doing business,” she said. “And a huge portion of that is the number of employees that we maintain on all of our budgets, constitutional as well as the county.”
Herr added that the county is looking at natural attrition as a tool — allowing vacant positions to go unfilled rather than making abrupt cuts.
“Through natural resignations, etc., potentially not filling positions — you already see our county manager doing that, as well as we did that last year,” she said.
For Herr, the math is straightforward, even when the decisions are not.
“Budgets only have two line items, from my perspective,” she said. “Revenue in and revenue out. And that’s all that we would be considering.”
‘Seminal Moments’ initiative drives efficiency savings
Since its 2025 launch, the county’s Seminal Moments continuous improvement initiative has identified 53 projects across 12 departments, with projected savings of approximately $60 million over the next five years.
The county says switching to SCOUT, Seminole’s on-demand micro-transit service, reduced LYNX service hours by approximately 80,000 annually and cut operating costs by $9 million. After accounting for the cost of the new service, the county projects net savings of approximately $2.2 million in FY27, with those savings expected to grow.
Property tax reform: A community conversation
Herr said a potential “yes” vote on the November 2026 property tax referendum wouldn’t just be a budget disruption — it would be a signal from residents about the services they value.
“Seminole County voters have historically wanted and treasured quality of life,” she said. “We want a safe community. We want to be able to travel from one end of any county road to the other without sitting in excess traffic. We want our communities to look good.”
She said the Board would follow the community’s lead, whatever direction voters go statewide.
“If they’re good with cutting services, we’ll cut services,” Herr said. “If they’re not good with cutting services, we won’t. We’re here to serve our residents.”
“I do think that the long-term view of this has to come into play this year, even if it doesn’t happen,” Herr said. “It’s to the best interest of the citizens for us to be thinking that way every year.”
Looking ahead
The FY27 budget continues funding the county’s share of SunRail and investments in Scout micro-transit, while maintaining what officials say is one of the lowest millage rates in the region — unchanged from last year.
Gray said the path forward will require continued fiscal discipline and a willingness to adapt.
“Through conservative budgeting practices, strategic planning, and a continued focus on operational efficiency, Seminole County remains well positioned to adapt to changing circumstances while protecting its long-term financial stability,” he wrote.
Herr echoed that sentiment, framing the county’s approach as less about reacting to crisis and more about consistent, principled planning.
“I don’t know that that’s the case in all 67 counties,” she said, “but in the counties that are fiscally responsible, we’re doing what we do every year — with a view to the future.”