ORANGE PARK - The town approved a final budget of $40.4 million, in addition to a slightly increased millage rate, on Tuesday night.

The final 5-0 vote was in favor of a total operating budget of $40,488,172, with 52.23% of that allocated to the general fund, 38.01% to the stormwater fund, 16.91% to the water and sewer fund, 4.02% to the special revenue funds, 3.65% to the sales tax capital projects fund and 1.50% to be transferred to other funds. 

The millage rate was decided at 5.95, up from the previous 5.7. The town initially proposed a 6.55% rate back in July, to which many residents opposed. This would've been the highest property tax increase the town had seen in a decade.

Before approval, the council also introduced some final budget amendments. The town will now have to clarify and limit the town manager's transfer authority for budget line items within a department or agency, not to exceed 10% or $25,000 per line item. Council authorization is required for anything that exceeds this.

Additionally, the cancellation of town events requires further town council authorization, except in cases of emergency, pandemics, natural disasters, or events beyond the town's reasonable control.

Mayor Randy Anderson also suggested more involvement for residents, department heads and the town manager when planning for the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The CIP is usually brought before the council in June.

He also considered adding a CIP tracking mechanism for at least five years back for monitoring purposes.

The new fiscal year starts on Oct. 1.