Charlotte County sets budget meeting for Aug. 19

PORT CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte County Commission set an August meeting to iron out the budget for the upcoming year.

Commissioners voted this week to approve an Aug. 19 meeting to discuss the 2024/25 fiscal year budget.

The board also voted to change the venue of two September public hearings on the budget to the Charlotte Harbor Event Center to accommodate larger crowds.

County Commissioner Kevin Doherty called for an additional budget meeting last week, given that the commission normally takes August off, with the goal of re-evaluating the upcoming budget and the associated millage rate.

The tentative net budget is projected to come to approximately $1.3 billion, a slight increase from the 2023/24 fiscal year. Commissioners have to have a new budget approved before the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1.

The millage rate is projected to remain flat a 6.1687, or about $6.17 per $1,000 of assessed value, with a total millage rate — including special districts and the county's Public Safety Unit — coming to about 11.9309.

Budget documents indicate that the sub-division of the millage rate for the county's general fund and the capital projects fund is set to increase, while the part of the rate for the Sheriff's Office and the Public Safety Unit will decrease.

Despite the millage decrease, county law enforcement is still due to see an additional $25 million in property funding due to an increase in property valuation across the county.

Commissioners noted they will attempt to reduce the millage rate even further, but that the above rate representing a "ceiling" for the 2024/25 fiscal year.

The Aug. 19 budget meeting is scheduled to start at 1 p.m., held in Room 119 of the County Administration Building on 18500 Murdock Circle.

The first public budget hearing will be held on Sept. 5 at the Charlotte Harbor Event Center in Punta Gorda, with the final public budget hearing being held on Sept. 24 at the same location.