The executive committee heard that the county faces about a $400,000 budget shortfall. Finance committee chair Jim Schienlein said the committee recommended moving employee health insurance to the state carrier (CMS) to access a larger pool, moderate cost increases and improve coverage; a final budget wrap-up meeting is scheduled for the 22nd.

Lee County commissioners adopted the FY 2026–27 county budget and approved countywide millage rates—including a 3.7623 mills countywide rate (0.89% over the rollback)—and completed adoption of special taxing district millages read into the record.

Lee County finance staff said updated revenue data tightened projections and left roughly a $2,000,000 gap between department requests and expected revenue; staff outlined transfers and timing steps to close the shortfall before final budget approval in November.

County staff presented a final draft FY 2627 continuation budget focused on the general fund and unincorporated MSTU, showing about $28 million in additional revenue and a remaining surplus in the modeled scenario; commissioners asked staff for a special workshop to model live options before the Sept. 3 hearing.

Officials said budget draft reviews are underway and that two unions have filed negotiation notices; the negotiating committee will schedule sessions and the county expects to present the budget for approval in November, following budget wrap-up and truth-in-taxation processes.

At an informational workshop, Lee County staff presented the first full draft of the FY 2627 continuation budget, showing modest revenue growth and a $28 million general-fund growth pool; commissioners asked staff to model rollback and millage scenarios for the Aug. 19 workshop.

County staff recommended a $127.9 million FY2026–27 budget that would raise the property tax rate 5¢ to 70¢, citing a higher EMS contract cost, additional school funding and deferred maintenance. Commissioners heard details and scheduled further budget deliberations and public hearings.