NEWBERRY – Newberry city commissioners set the property tax rate at 5.880 mills and approved a tentative $47.9 million budget Sept. 14 during a meeting that also included action on utility rates, six voluntary annexations, a McDonald’s development plan and a six-lot subdivision.
The commission adopted a resolution setting the city’s millage rate for fiscal year 2026-27 at 5.880 mills, unchanged from the previous year.
Commissioners also approved a tentative budget with $48,206,922 in projected revenues across all funds and $47,944,538 in expenditures.
In a separate action, the commission approved Ordinance 2026-28 on first reading, revising the city’s utility fees, rates and charges and establishing a new water availability charge for nonresidential customers.
Assistant City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Dallas Lee said the monthly charge would help pay the cost of maintaining water service capacity independently of charges based on actual water consumption.
“It is a monthly charge for nonresidential connections to the City’s water system,” Lee said. “It helps fund the cost of keeping water service available, separate from the charge for the amount of water actually used. It also replaces our current non-residential customer charge; smaller commercial customers will actually see a decrease under the new structure.”
Lee said basing the charge on meter size is intended to more equitably distribute system costs because larger connections require the utility to maintain greater capacity, even when customers are not using that capacity.
“The amount is based on the water meter size at each connection, including fire lines,” Lee said. “The monthly charge ranges from $15 for a ⅝-inch × ¾-inch meter to $238 for an 8-inch meter.”
Commissioners also adopted compensation schedules establishing the city’s compensation plan.
Development matters accounted for several other actions during the meeting.
Following a quasi-judicial public hearing, commissioners approved Resolution 2026-35, establishing site and development conditions for a McDonald’s restaurant on approximately 1.26 acres within the Highland Park Planned Development.
The commission also approved a variance reducing the minimum lot size from 5 acres to 1 acre for approximately 1.05 acres identified as Lot 6 of the Reserve at Park West subdivision. The property is at the northeast corner of Northwest 170th Street and Northwest 166th Terrace.
In a related quasi-judicial proceeding, commissioners approved construction plans for the Reserve at Park West, a six-lot subdivision encompassing approximately 26 acres northeast of the intersection of State Road 26 and Northwest 170th Street.
The commission also gave first-reading approval to six voluntary annexations involving seven parcels totaling approximately 91 acres. City documents indicate all of the properties are contiguous with Newberry’s municipal boundaries and are within enclaves.
The annexations include approximately 6.35 acres at 506 N.W. 266th St., owned by Maloney Builders Group; 10 acres at 22515 SW 67th Ave., owned by Mays; 6 acres at 2601 S.W. 186th St., owned by Buford; and 36.83 acres consisting of two parcels northeast of Southwest 282nd Street and Southwest 30th Avenue, owned by Clarkson-Bergman.
Also included are approximately 14.83 acres at 22807 W. Newberry Road, owned by Palmer, and 17 acres at 28609 S.W. 30th Ave., owned by The Hermitage LLC.
Commissioners also authorized city staff to continue discussions with a property owner concerning a possible extension of Southwest 15th Avenue to Doc Karelas Drive.
Staff has been discussing the potential roadway connection with property owner Mr. Everett, who has indicated a willingness to provide the necessary right of way through his property. The commission authorized staff to continue pursuing acquisition or dedication of the right of way and to develop additional information about the project’s feasibility and potential cost.
In other business, commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with Alachua County and participating municipalities concerning the use of disaster debris management sites. The sites would be used for vegetative debris.
The commission also approved Resolution 2026-48 authorizing the city manager to execute a lease with AtkinsRéalis USA for use of a city-owned house at 26306 S.W. 30th Ave. The house will accommodate the resident project representative overseeing construction of the city’s wastewater treatment plant project.
After the wastewater treatment plant project is completed, the property is expected to be used as part of a fire training facility.
Measures requiring a second reading are scheduled to return to the commission for final consideration Sept. 28.
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