Council approves millage rate, budget for next fiscal year

CRESTVIEW — In the less-than-15-minute final hearing, city council members unanimously voted with one member missing to adopt the budget and millage rate for the next fiscal year.

The millage rate will stay the same at 6.9 mills, equivalent to $6.90 for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

Millage rates are used to calculate local property taxes, and Crestview’s rate will allow the city to collect around $7 million in property taxes.

Crestview’s millage rate remains the highest in Okaloosa County.

The $37.5 million budget was approved without changes.

Both the budget and millage rate will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2018 and end on Sep. 30, 2019.

Included in the budget is the city manager position, which was also discussed in a workshop meeting on the same night.

According to the workshop agenda, some of the city manager’s responsibilities will include:

• Attendance of all meetings
• Monthly financial reports, “unless otherwise directed by the council”
• Working with the city clerk and other departments on the budget
• Advising the council on financial status and needs of the city
• Maintaining public and media relations

Qualifications were also listed on the agenda.

Although some council members prefer to have a city manager from Crestview, they are not required to live in the city.

According to the agenda, the city manager’s salary will be “negotiable.”

However, the next fiscal year budget has $300,000 allotted for the city manager position.

The council is expected to begin accepting applications on Oct. 9.

The job will be listed on www.cityofcrestview.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Council approves millage rate, budget for next fiscal year