Palm Coast City Council Adopts $534 Million FY2027 Budget

The Palm Coast City Council unanimously adopted a $534 million budget for Fiscal Year 2027, establishing a rolled-back millage rate of 4.1387 per $1,000 of taxable value. The financial plan allocates $88 million to the general fund and over $250 million for water and sewer utilities, while maintaining an operational reserve of at least two and a half months.

To address a request from the Flagler County Sheriff's Office for more personnel, the council approved $330,000 to fund two additional deputies. This expenditure will be offset by leaving a Parks and Recreation position vacant and reducing travel and fleet replacement budgets. The decision followed a request from Sheriff Rick Staly for nine new deputies to handle a surge in community call volume.

Beyond operational costs, the council agreed to borrow up to $11 million to resolve a lawsuit with the developer Allete concerning land in Town Center. Mayor Mike Norris cautioned that the city may need to identify new revenue sources or implement further spending cuts if the proposed Amendment 3 leads to a reduction in property tax revenue.