Fabrizio Gowdy
Gadsden County News Service
The Havana Town Council adopted a $15.2 million budget and a millage rate of 3.0000 at its final public hearing Monday.
The meeting was lightly attended and lasted just eight minutes. No citizens to be heard came forward during public comment.
The council’s decision not to approve the rollback rate of 2.934 mills means property taxes will increase for Havana residents.
Town Manager Kendrah Wilkerson said additional revenues were needed, justifying the decision to keep the mill rate at 3.0000, which is expected to bring in 2.2% more in revenue from property taxes than last year.
“Additional revenues [are] required to fund police department salaries, sustain operations, repair fleet, and complete maintenance on town facilities,” Wilkerson said.
However, Councilman Matt Wesolowski voiced his hope that the council would make the necessary sacrifices to adopt a rollback rate next year. He said that would mean being proactive, planning, and making little decisions that add up to significant savings.
“If you start thinking about it now and think of little things throughout the year, then when the budget comes it can be a piece of cake. If you have to run a marathon, you don’t start training the week before,” said Wesolowski.
Wesolowski referenced the increasing numbers of residents he says have been showing up to Gadsden County Commission meetings to demand a rollback, arguing Havana can be an example for the county government on the issue of mill rates.
The vote on both the budget and the mill rate was 5-0, with Councilwoman Penny Key and Councilman Landon Seymour absent. The adopted budget is effective from Oct. 1, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2026.
