(ESCAMBIA COUNTY, F.L) --- The Escambia Board of County Commissioners approved a nearly billion-dollar budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 without a line-by-line review.
The first public hearing on September 8 did, however, include constant blame and yelling from Commissioners Mike Kohler and Lumon May, who made a point of cutting off Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger, who was willing to spend time reviewing the $890.9 million budget with Commissioner Steve Stroberger.
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This year's budget includes a $22.1 million increase from last year, with the tentative countywide millage rate remaining at 6.6000, 2.32% above the rollback rate. Stroberger moved to reduce the countywide millage to 6.571, a $1 million cut. The motion passed 4-1. During discussion, Commissioner Lumon May offered a "friendly amendment" asking staff to find the savings without using reserves.
Commissioner Hofberger said she would not support a millage reduction without identifying specific cuts first. A millage rate is the amount of property tax owed per $1,000 of taxable value. One "mill" equals $1 in tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. For example, on a home with a $150,000 taxable value, the 6.60 mill county tax amounts to $990 per year.
"I'm not gonna vote to roll back the millage rate," May said. "We can find $1 million, we can find $2 million, but to vote to roll back the millage rate when we have ways to cut, that’s not what I’m gonna do."
After the millage vote, Commissioner May made a separate motion that the board's "first option" for finding the $1 million reduction would be to avoid taking money from reserves and instead find other cost-saving measures.
That motion passed 5-0.
County staff cautioned against larger cuts because of uncertainty around the November General Election and Amendment 3, which would change property tax rules and affect future county revenue. The board did approve $1.1 million in total cuts to the Clerk of the Circuit Court. A motion to cut $1 million from the Clerk's operating budget passed 3-2.
A second motion to cut $100,000 from legal services passed 4-1.
At the July 23 budget workshop, Hofberger proposed $1.6 million in cuts. Hofberger said she would also support cutting the $211,000 Discretionary Fund, which brought on contention. According to May, the Fund is not even real, rather just a "buzzword," which began a contentious argument that left Hofberger no chance to speak.
"I am willing to cut the firework show on the beach, mardi gras; I am really ready to cut," Kohler said before accusing Hofberger of political theater while he yelled and pointed the finger at Hofberger, who remained calm.
"I do think we give away too much in tourism tax dollars, and I think they should have to prove they put those heads in beds," Hofberger said. "I presented it to the TDC board, and it did not go over well."
After Hofberger noted Orlando and several other municipalities, it only led to May's sarcastic comment that "Orlando do what Mickey Mouse tell them to do."
Kohler and May's theatrics drowned out any real budget talks, proving it's no problem to play around with a billion dollars of taxpayers' money. Even more disheartening are the empty public seats, showing that the public will show up to complain and talk down on commissioners, but not to engage with the issues that affect them every day.
On another note, the board directed staff to find funding for a 6 percent raise for non-bargaining employees making less than $50,000 per year. The current budget includes 2 percent. The county staff estimated the cost at about $1 million.
According to staff, the overall $22.1 million increase is driven largely by rising costs for insurance, public safety, and infrastructure maintenance. County officials noted that without the increase, departments would reduce services next year.
The county budget process is not over. A second and final public hearing is scheduled for Thursday, September 24, at the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building.
The board will take public comment before voting to adopt the budget and set the final millage rate. To add any information or to share a tip, contact me at pepper.w@lead4earth.org.
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