Fort Walton Beach Resolution — 2026-18 Adopting Tentative Budget FY 2026-27 — reading text

RESOLUTION 2026- 18 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR CERTAIN EXPENDITURES, EXPENSES, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND CERTAIN INDEBTEDNESS FOR THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, FOR THE YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2026 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2027; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City of Fort Walton Beach City Charter requires the City Manager to prepare and submit an annual city budget to the City Council identifying the expenditures and revenues in sufficient amounts to cover all appropriations; and WHEREAS, the proposed FY 2026- 27 budget for the City of Fort Walton Beach was last presented to the City Council on August 26, 2026; and WHEREAS, the City' s property value for 2026 was certified by the Okaloosa County Property Appraiser on June 22, 2026; and WHEREAS, all applicable legal requirements pertaining to public notices and hearings have been satisfied within the specified deadlines and prior to final adoption of this resolution; and WHEREAS, the City Council has examined and carefully considered the proposed budget in properly noticed public meetings. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Purpose Prior to the beginning of a new fiscal year, the City is required to pass and adopt a budget for the operation of the City government. The City held a public budget workshop on August 11, 2026 and a special meeting August 26,2026 to discuss the Proposed FY 2026-27 Budget. The City held a public budget hearing on September 9, 2026 as required by Section 200.065 of the Florida Statutes. Section 2. Tentative Tax Rate The City Council set the tentative tax rate at 5. 6900 mills at the June 23, 2026 budget meeting for properties assessed as of January 1, 2026. On June 26, 2026, Senate Bill 4- F adjusted the maximum millage to 4. 6801. The City held a public special meeting on August 26, 2026 and direction did not change from preparing the budget at 4.6801. The City Manager used 4. 6801 mills to prepare the Proposed FY 2026- 27 budget. Section 3. Adoption of Budget The document entitled " City of Fort Walton Beach FY 2026- 27 Proposed Budget" comprises the total amount of$ 65, 396,485 for all funds reported. The budget is being presented as a balanced budget whereby there are sufficient revenues to offset all estimated expenditures or expenses. All budget appropriations are based upon the total expenditures and/or expenses even though the budget has been prepared based on line items and summarized to a categorical level. Section 4. Budget Amendments a. The City Council may make any amendments to the adopted budget, by resolution, as  RESOLUTION 2026- 18 it may deem necessary and proper. b. Budget amendments requesting additional expenditures or expenses must also identify the corresponding funding source. Section 5. Budget Transfers Budget transfers shall be accomplished pursuant to Administrative Policy FIN- 13 as provided by Resolution 2011- 19 adopted by the City Council on August 16, 2011 and amended August 23, 2023. Section 6. Debt Service Debt service for the General Fund will be paid from operating revenues in the General Fund. Debt service for the Utilities and Stormwater Enterprise Funds will be paid from operating revenues from the Enterprise Funds. Section 7. Carryovers a. Projects that were not completed during the prior fiscal year are carried forward and are funded with the corresponding carryover appropriations of the prior year. These are commitments anticipated to be incomplete as of September 30, 2026 and will be continued and made a part of the FY 2026- 27 budget. The document entitled " City of Fort Walton Beach FY 2026- 27 Grant & CIP Project Carryovers" dated September 23, 2026 will comprise the total amount for all funds requested. b. Encumbrances ( open purchase orders) that were not completed during the prior fiscal year are carried forward and are funded with the corresponding carryover appropriations of the prior year. These are commitments anticipated to be incomplete as of September 30, 2026 and will be continued and made a part of the FY 2026- 27 budget. The document entitled " City of Fort Walton Beach FY 2026- 27 Encumbrance Carryovers" dated September 23, 2026 will comprise the total amount for all funds requested. Section 8. Effective Date This resolution shall become effective on and after October 1, 2026. Adopted: aka/ i the r q, a-o (, Nic Allegretto, Mayor Attest: Approved as to legal form and sufficiency for the City of Fort Walton Beach, only. Kim . Barnes, City Clerk osi watt., imber • ' ano T+ pp, City Attorney Astiow. fl. icy: / h n FLofl •