SEBASTIAN — The Sebastian City Council, at the final millage/budget hearing Wednesday night, voted 5-0 to keep the city’s tax rate steady.
The fiscal year 2015-16 millage rate will be the same as last year, 3.8556, generating an additional $288,367 due to an increase in property values.
The city budget will be just over $11.4 million, up nearly $249,000 from last year.
The heftiest departmental budgets continue to be the Police Department at $4.76 million and the Stormwater Utility at $1.2 million.
High visibility items that appear again this year, and which prompted last year’s millage hike from 3.7166 to 3.8557, include funding for the Indian River Lagoon – $100,000; street repair/repaving – $200,000; and All Aboard Florida – $50,000. The $100,000/year Sewer Connectivity Grant program will continue, as well.
Standout among the City’s enterprise funds is $998,500 to replace the Municipal Golf Course’s 35-year-old irrigation system, which will be paid for through a loan from the Building Fund and with DST funds.
Items on the City’s plate but not funded include seawall repairs and quarter round replacement.
Council also approved the Riverfront Community Redevelopment Agency FY15-16 budget of $425,923.
The entire budget package is available at www.cityofsebastian.org.