by Kate Kimmel
Nassau County commissioners voted Monday to tentatively adopt a $472.8 million countywide budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year while approving another reduction in the property tax rate.
The property tax rate, also called the millage rate, is the amount levied per $1,000 of assessed property value. A rate of 6.7457 mills means homeowners pay about $6.75 in county taxes for every $1,000 of their property’s taxable value.
The tentative millage rate was set at 6.7457, down from the current 6.8822. This marks the fifth consecutive year the commission has lowered the millage rate.
“We continue to do more with less every year,” Assistant County Manager Marshall Eyerman said in his presentation to commissioners.
Even with the rate decrease, ad valorem tax revenue — money collected through property taxes — is projected to rise because property values across the county have increased. Higher assessments allow the county to collect more revenue overall while charging residents a lower rate.
Not all revenue streams are trending upward, however. Sales tax collections fell 0.31 percent, or about $80,232, and fuel tax revenue dropped 2.27 percent, or roughly $114,170. Eyerman said the expected increase in property tax revenue will help offset those declines.
Nassau’s population is projected to double by 2050 according to Eyerman, who stressed the need to continue investing in quality-of-life expenses such as fire stations, road repairs and parks to adapt to population growth. He highlighted improvements funded by county tax dollars over the past five years and noted that the county has earned a AAA credit rating, as well as the Government Finance Officers Association’s Budget Award and Triple Crown Award.
Public safety spending during that period helped expand fire staffing levels, build two new fire stations and renovate two others. The sheriff’s office secured funding for a new training building and shooting range, while Emergency Management used funds to increase Federal Emergency Management Agency training for county staff and respond to six hurricanes over the last three years.
Recreation funds supported the establishment of the county’s Parks Department, construction of several new parks, the adoption of a sports policy to manage field use, installation of new lighting at Callahan athletic fields and the county’s first splash pad.
Economic development initiatives included funding for the Nassau Prosperity Alliance, which Eyerman said contributed to a 26.3 percent increase in countywide employment.
Public works investments supported a range of infrastructure projects, including road quality improvements, creation of a storm drain and ditch maintenance program, and implementation of beach security measures.
Commissioners are scheduled to hold a final public hearing Sept. 22 to officially adopt the budget and set the millage rate.
kkimmel@nassaunewsline.net
