PALM BAY, FL – In a special meeting on Monday, September 8, 2025, the Palm Bay City Council navigated a series of failed motions before finally approving a tentative operating millage rate of 6.7000 for the upcoming fiscal year in a 4-1 vote. The meeting also included a unanimous vote on the city’s debt millage rate and a special recognition for Councilman Johnson.
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For residents, the millage rate is a key factor in calculating their property taxes. A “mill” is equal to $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value. To calculate the tax owed, you take the property’s taxable value, divide it by 1,000, and then multiply that number by the millage rate.
For example, a home with a taxable value of $200,000 would have a tax calculation of:
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$200,000 (Taxable Value) ÷ 1,000 = 200
200 x 6.7 (Millage Rate) = $1,340
This $1,340 would be the amount paid for the city’s portion of property taxes. A higher millage rate directly results in a higher tax bill for property owners, while a lower rate would reduce their tax burden.
The debate over the operating millage rate was the primary focus of the meeting. City Manager Morton initially presented a proposed rate of 6.7339, explaining that the funds were needed for critical obligations, including an $11 million increase for police and fire pension contributions and $4.5 million for new fire rescue vehicles. He cautioned that a lower rate of 6.5 would require nearly $2.4 million in cuts, leaving the city with a minimal emergency operating reserve.
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The discussion was highly divided, with Councilman Johnson and Councilman Hammer advocating for a lower rate. Johnson spoke about the need to “trim fat” and pushing for “zero-based budgeting,” stating, “when things get tight for the residents… you have to trim fat here and there”. He also expressed his opinion that the city has “too many chiefs and not enough Indians”.
On the other side, Deputy Mayor Jaffe and Councilman Langevin insisted on a higher rate to give the new city manager, who was hired just three months prior, the “tools to succeed”. Langevin stated that he was “not here to budge” or “negotiate” and that he had already seen “phenomenal things” done in the new city manager’s first three months. Deputy Mayor Jaffe described the call for a lower rate as a “political play” and voiced his concern that it would “set up our city’s manager to fail”. Mayor Medina pushed aggressively to reach the 6.733 rate but it was clear he would not get the supermajority vote needed for that rate.
After several motions failed, a final motion to set the rate at 6.7000 was approved in a 4-1 vote. Deputy Mayor Jaffe, Councilman Hammer, Councilman Johnson, and Mayor Medina voted “Aye,” while Councilman Langevin voted “Nay”. The mayor confirmed the outcome, saying, “six point seven zero zero it is”.
In addition to the operating millage rate, the council also addressed the debt millage rate. City Manager Morton stated that the city had tentatively adopted a debt millage rate of 0.9993, which would generate an estimated $10,013,744 in revenue. These funds are restricted to debt service payments for three series of general obligation bonds. The council voted unanimously, 5-0, to approve the debt millage rate.
This was only the tentative vote. By law, the Council must hold one more budget hearing, scheduled for September 24 at 6 p.m.
At that final hearing, the Council can only confirm the 6.7000 rate or lower it. They cannot raise it any higher.
The new tax rate and utility fees would take effect October 1 if finalized.
