Cape Coral City Council will discuss two millage rates Thursday during the first public budget hearing for Fiscal Year 2025.

The two are the not-to-exceed rate of 5.2188 mills, which Council established on July 24. This rate is 2.55% above the “roll back” rate of 5.0888 mills, the other property ta rate on the table.

One mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of taxable assessed valuation. The “roll-back” rate is the rate at which overall property tax revenue received by the city is flat.

The city manager’s proposed budget, based on 5.2188 mills, has a General Fund, or operation budget, $258,485,438. For all funds the budget is $1,058,403,269.

The 5.0888 mills rolled back rate would generate $254,793,553 for the General Fund. The total budget would be $1,054,711,384.

The proposed millage rate to pay back the voter-approved $60 million Parks General Obligation Bond is an additional .1791 mills.

Funding adjustments include the removal of requested positions for a paralegal senior, assistant city attorney II and administrative clerk; the addition of five traffic officers for six months; reallocation of the old golf course purchase; old golf course remediation and a 10% raise for police officers, sergeants and lieutenants.

The highlights of the budget include sidewalk expansion in school zones; Operation Sparkle; Jaycee Park shoreline; acquisition and development of old golf course; median curbing and improvements, food prevention improvements and expanded paving projects.

The first budget public hearing will be held at 5:05 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, in City Council chambers, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd. The meeting is open to the public.

The final public hearing for the budget is Thursday, Sept. 26, at 5:05, when the council will adopt the millage rates and budget.