Overview
The City of Sarasota adopted a $303 million FY2025-26 budget on September 15, 2025 (announced September 16), $2 million less than the current budget while maintaining service levels. The operating millage is 3.2730 mills, lowered from a preliminary 3.3000 mills, with the added revenue directed to rebuilding reserves depleted by Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. The Capital Improvement Plan totals $42 million.
At a glance
$303 million
Total budget, FY2025-26, as stated
3.2730 mills
Operating millage
$42 million
Capital Improvement Plan, FY2025-26
20%
Reserve target (share of General Fund expenditures)
Headline budget
| Total budget, FY2025-26 (as stated) | $303 million |
| Change vs current budget | $2 million less |
| Operating millage | 3.2730 mills |
| Preliminary millage (July, lowered after first hearing) | 3.3000 mills |
| Capital Improvement Plan | $42 million |
| Current-year fund balance (as stated) | $16.8 million, 15.6% of expenditures |
| Storm recovery expenditures (estimated, current fiscal year) | Over $20 million |
| Fiscal year | October 1 – September 30 |
Breakdown
What the adoption release states (no fund breakdown is given in the release, so none is shown):
| Total budget, FY2025-26 | $303 million |
| Capital Improvement Plan, FY2025-26 (hurricane recovery, transportation safety, sustainability, utilities infrastructure, accessibility) | $42 million |
| Operating millage | 3.2730 mills |
| Additional revenue from the millage increase, designated for reserves | $4.7 million |
| Median homeowner impact (taxable value $360,000) | Additional $84.63 |
| Bond ratings (as stated) | Aa1 (Moody's) / AA+ (Fitch) |
Elected officials
The release quotes Mayor Liz Alpert. No other commissioner is named in the release, so no full commission roster is shown rather than guessed. City Hall: 1565 1st Street, Sarasota, FL 34236; (941) 263-6000.
Sources & notes
- Only source used: City of Sarasota, “Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget adopted” (sarasotafl.gov, September 16, 2025). City of Sarasota FY2025-26 adoption release.
- Flags: (1) CITY only — Sarasota County is a separate government; no county figures are used; (2) the total is the release's rounded “$303 million”; no exact total or fund split is claimed. Re-check route: the City of Sarasota FY2025-26 adopted budget book for exact totals and a fund breakdown.
- Jurisdiction check: document header verified as City of Sarasota, Florida.
- Jurisdiction palette: no verified Florida jurisdiction palette was on file, so this page uses the neutral Hometown Numbers dark-glass theme rather than a jurisdiction color.