Spending laid out with eye on Amendment 3 vote
As most local municipal and government boards begin their 2026-27 fiscal years today, they approved new budgets in September.
Amendment 3, the statewide ballot initiative that would authorize the increase in the standard homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, significantly lowering property taxes paid on owner-occupied homes, was a popular topic of conversation during the budget process.
To prepare for the possibility that Amendment 3 passes with 60% of the statewide vote, Osceola County, its cities and School District streamlined budgets, delaying capital projects, eliminating open positions or keeping them vacant.
Here’s some highlights
St. Cloud: A $231 million budget that is, for the first time in 31 years, not requiring prior year reserves to fully fund operations. It’s millage rate stays put at 5.1128.
Kissimmee: Also with a millage rate steady at 4.6253, its $321.9 million budget does use $5 million in reserves to maintain funding while putting a hiring freeze in place and canceling or deferring planned spending.
“This was a difficult budget to balance,” City Manager Mike Steigerwald said.
Police and fire protection, at just over $70 million combined, are the city’s largest spending commitment. Construction of the Mark E. Durbin Community Center was canceled because the City cannot afford the positions needed to staff and run it, and some equipment, and capital purchases outside of the public safety budget have been deferred. Osceola County: A $3.11 billion balanced budget was approved, as was a 6.700 millage rate that also stays steady. $400 million of that spending is “locked into public safety,” said County Commission Chair Brandon Arrington said at the Sept. 21 meeting where the budget was approved.
Osceola County: A $3.11 billion balanced budget was approved, as was a 6.700 millage rate that also stays steady. $400 million of that spending is “locked into public safety,” said County Commission Chair Brandon Arrington said at the Sept. 21 meeting where the budget was approved.
Osceola School District: The $1.86 billion budget actually features a slightly-lowered 5.277 millage rate for 2026-27. The School Board has gotten the approval to place a referendum on the Nov. 3 election ballot for an additional one mill assessment to help fund staff retention, security measures and extracurricular activities.
