City Council - Special Meeting

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to our City of Fort St. Lucie Special City Council meeting this Monday, September 14, 2026, at 5.30 p.m. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Councilwoman Morgan? Yes, ma'am.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands,

From public to be heard, would anyone like to address the council on any non-agenda related items? Seeing no one, I'll close public to be heard. Moving on to item five, first reading of ordinances, 5A, ordinance 26-84.

Caroline, I appreciate you pointing that out. I think all of us every year have conversations with new homeowners that have recently moved to the city within the prior year and they don't understand how the taxes work and they don't understand that when they purchase the home, the prior exemptions do get wiped away and a new value is assessed. I know that every single one of us deal with that, like I mentioned, every year and have to explain that because for whatever reason that doesn't get explained to people who are either buying new homes or purchasing existing homes. So thank you for that.

Thank you so much for the presentation. Really appreciate it. Council, any questions? Any questions?

Well, I was just going to say a comment on the trim public announcements, the one that you have to read. That information is true, but it is truth without context. And so I wanted to provide a little bit of context. So one of the reasons, and one of the reasons I've been very passionate about what the city's done, even before I was on the council, is I believe that year over year, decreases result in an overall lower tax bill. And so you could have a taxing authority while everything was quiet that just sat there and left their millage rate the same. So maybe they left it at 6 mils or 7 mils o

So and I think it was a great explanation. And I did the same thing with mine. I look back when I moved into my home and I noticed that my city taxes have increased approximately. I think it was like twelve dollars from ten years ago. But my other taxing authorities were approximately about 20% of an increase from that point, from 10 years ago. So I just wanted to note, because on the city fund general revenue, the revenue sources, Caroline, I just want it for the record. that $128.9 million, which is 13%, is comprised of property taxes. But that's more than 50% of the general fund. And so the

All right, if there's nothing else from Council, I'll open the public hearing. Would anyone like to address the Council on Ordinance 26-84? Seeing no one, I'll close the public hearing. Council?

Motion to adopt the millage rate ordinance at the operating rate of 4.6107 mils, which is a reduction of 0.050 mils from the current rate of 4.6... No, no, no. No? The total millage is 4.8750. Wait, I was reading... Oh, you were reading the whole thing?

Yep, I was reading because I was... Oh, okay. Confused me there for a second. Go ahead, I'm sorry. Okay. I was just doing, I thought we had to say it exactly the way Caroline said it. We have to vote the total millage.

I was just trying to make sure I did it right. So I'll go ahead and make a motion, then I'll simplify it if everyone's okay with it so I don't confuse. I'll go ahead and adopt the total millage is 4.8750 mils. Second.

I have a motion and a second to adopt the total millage at 4.8750 mils. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Make sure we get it right. Aye. Any opposed? Yes, as long as Caroline's happy. That's right. Okay. Motion is approved. Moving on to 5B, Ordinance 26-85.

This item is a public hearing. Would anyone like to address ordinance 26-85, which is adopting the budget? Seeing no one, I'll close the public hearing. Council? Motion to approve ordinance 26-85. Second. I have a motion and a second. Any final discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.

Thank you. This item is also a public hearing. Would anyone like to address the council? Seeing no one, we'll close the public hearing. Council, is there a motion?

I have a motion and a second. Any final discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. No one has anything else? This council meeting is adjourned.