According to the State of Florida Long-Range Financial Outlook, prepared by the Legislative Budget Commission for Fiscal Years 2027-2029, while the economy was relatively stable in Fiscal Year 2024-25, a less certain economic environment exists from this point forward. Economic pressures are still evident in the reduction of household savings, the heightened use of consumer credit, and persistently elevated inflation. The predominant risks to the new economic forecast are to the downside. The new forecast was decidedly weaker in the near term, especially in sectors dependent upon significant consumer debt such as residential construction, existing home sales, and motor vehicle sales. Florida's proposed Amendment 3 would significantly restructure the state's economic landscape by introducing a major property tax overhaul, raising homestead exemptions, and placing strict caps on local government spending. Its implementation would create a mix of tax relief and local government funding challenges. Despite the challenging and unstable economic environment, the City did achieve economic growth during the most recent period.

Revenue and expense estimates in this budget are based on historical trends with last year's actuals also being considered. In FY 2026/27 total revenue estimate is $68,777,995 increased by $1,165,424 (Proposed Budget Summary, page 78) in comparison with the previous year of $67,612,571. The total expenditure estimate for FY 2026/27 is $73,650,102 increased by $5,213,739 (Proposed Budget Summary, page 78), in comparison with the previous year's adopted budget of $68,436,363.

The anticipated available fund balance for the General Fund at the end of FY 2026/27 is projected to be $8,879,519 (General Fund Summary, page 122). This is in addition to the required reserves of $7,668,372 (General Fund Summary, page 122). The budgeted expenditures in the General Fund exceed budgeted revenues by $1,222,023. This is primarily due to one-time project costs budgeted in FY 2026/27, as well as increased operating and personnel costs. The total transfers from the Water and Sewer Revenue Fund to other funds are $5,363,800 which is $130,000 more than FY 2025/26 (Water and Sewer Fund, page 282).

According to the Lake County Property Appraiser's Preliminary Tax Roll for year 2026, new construction in the Eustis economy resulted in an increase in taxable value of $52,334,487, in comparison with prior year's increase of $35,744,964, a 46.4% increase. The current year gross taxable property value of $1,956,638,802, reflects an increase of 6.92% over prior year final gross taxable value from prior year of $1,830,024,307.

This letter serves as an executive summary of the proposed budget with a review and analysis of the following:

The City of Eustis has 24 separate funds with various sources of revenue. This budget is based on

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