Newberry City Commission sets millage rate at 5.8800, approves Wawa site plan

BY DAVID LIGHTMAN

NEWBERRY, Fla. – At the September 22 regular meeting and second budget hearing, the Newberry City Commission set the final property tax rate at 5.8800 mills, adopted the FY2025-2026 budget, raised utility rates, and changed the zoning classification for the AgTechFood Park. At a Board of Adjustment meeting, they approved a site plan for a Wawa to be located within the Highland Park Planned Development, and at a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board meeting, they passed the annual CRA budget.

Property tax rate and budget

After passing the consent agenda, the budget hearing portion of the meeting began. This was the second and final budget hearing for the year. City Attorney Kiersten Ballou introduced the property tax millage rate item. 

City Manager Jordan Marlowe said, “Mr. Mayor, tonight I’m proud to present the City of Newberry’s budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. I’m pleased to report that Newberry is in a strong financial position. This budget is balanced. It lowers the property tax rate from last year, and not many governments in our area can say that. Perhaps more importantly, it positions us for the future while continuing to deliver the high-quality services our residents depend on. Our taxable property value grew by 8% this year, reaching nearly $884 million. It is that growth which allows us to lower the millage rate to 5.88 mills while still giving us the resources to invest in our citizens, our services, and the infrastructure that supports our community. The next several years will be some of the busiest in Newberry’s history. This budget helps set the stage for major projects, the kind that will serve our city for decades.” Marlowe listed several major projects that are underway, including public safety projects.

Assistant City Manager Dallas Lee said, “The proposed final millage rate for the City of Newberry is 5.8800 mills, which is 3.16% more than the rolled-back rate of 5.6995 mills. The rolled-back millage rate is defined as the millage rate which, exclusive of new construction, additions to structures, deletions, and property added due to geographic boundary changes, will provide the same ad valorem tax revenue as each taxing authority was levied in the prior year. The rolled-back millage rate… would have generated approximately $159,546 less than the proposed final millage rate. This $159,546 reflects the increase in taxes due to the millage and property valuation increases within the corporate limits of the city. The proposed final millage rate of 5.8800 will enable the City to provide for growth, maintenance of existing infrastructure, the advancement of the Commission’s goals and strategies, as well as to continue providing increased levels and quality service to the citizens of Newberry.”

Lee continued, “The 2025-2026 budget summary for all funds of the City of Newberry summarizes all revenues and other financing sources available to the City in the amount of $66,790,940, with reserves brought forward in the amount of $8,414,344. Total revenue and other financing sources available to the City [amount to] $75,124,284. The proposed General Fund budget is $15,277,194. The proposed Capital Improvement Funds budget is $190,262. The proposed Special Revenue Funds budget totals $4,983,138. The proposed Debt Service Fund budget totals $42,650. The proposed Enterprise Funds budgets total $52,513,850. The proposed Internal Service Funds budgets total $1,757,190. There are no changes to the proposed final budget from the tentative budget. Mr. Mayor, that concludes my comments on the proposed final budgets.”

Commissioner Tony Mazon made a motion to pass the millage rate as presented, Commissioner Donald Long seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

Long made a motion to approve the budget as presented, Mazon seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. 

Utility rate increases

Attorney Ballou read three ordinances to raise electric rates by 4.5%, water rates by 7.5%, and wastewater rates by 8.5%. All three ordinances passed on second readings. Mayor Tim Marden said that concluded the second and final annual budget hearing.

Land use and rezoning items

Commissioners passed small-scale future land use map amendment and rezoning items for approximately 50 properties, including 39 annexations. 

Of special note was the second reading of a quasi-judicial item that rezoned 165.88 acres known as the AgTechFood Park from Agriculture (A) zoning to Agriculture Technology (AT) zoning, a newly-created zoning category discussed in more detail at the June 9 meeting.

Director of Community Development Stacey Hectus said, “We had a Planning & Zoning 4-0 unanimous vote. And on September 8, a unanimous vote from the Commission.” Hectus said staff recommended approval, and “this is the last piece that has to happen in order for it to be ready to go for… any applications on developing that site. So we are there.”

Mazon made a motion to approve the rezoning ordinance, Long seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

Board of Adjustment meeting

Following a short intermission, a Board of Adjustment meeting began. After approving the minutes of the August 25 Board of Adjustment meeting, the only item was approving a site development plan for a 6,372-square-foot Wawa convenience store and gas station with 16 fueling stations, to be located on 2.27 acres within the Highland Park Planned Development. This was a quasi-judicial item, and the participating parties were sworn in.

Principal Planner Jean-Paul Perez said the Planning & Zoning Board recommended approval of the resolution on August 26, and staff recommended approval. Perez said the Wawa will be located “immediately to your left” upon entering the Highland Park Development off of Newberry Road.

Mazon asked about electric chargers at the location, and a representative of the developer said they normally install chargers to meet demand once the fueling stations are open.

Mazon made a motion to accept the resolution, Long seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

CRA Board

Following another short intermission, the meeting reconvened as a Community Redevelopment Agency Board. After approving the minutes of the August 11 CRA meeting, the only item was the FY2026 CRA budget. 

Lee showed some slides of the business façade and clean-up projects that the CRA was able to assist with, along with slides of the City of Newberry mural and other recently-completed murals.

Lee said the total revenue for the FY2026 budget is $625,000, which is $305,000 from the City and another $305,000 from the County, plus some interest revenue. This covers mainly grants and overhead expenses such as salaries, Lee said. 

Attorney Ballou read the budget resolution into the record, Long made a motion to approve it, and Coleman seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.