The Town of Oakland is announcing Public Hearing dates for the Fiscal Year 2020/2021 Budget. The hearings to set the millage and adopt the budget are scheduled for the following dates at the Oakland Meeting Hall, 221 N. Arrington St., and will be available live via Zoom.:

•  Wednesday, September 9, 2019 – 6:30 p.m. (First public hearing)

•  Tuesday, September 22, 2019 – 6:30 p.m. (Adoption of budget)

During a July 28 Town Commission workshop, the Commission recommended a status quo general fund budget based on a millage rate of 6.50, the same rate as in FY 2019/2020.

The Town Commission reduced the millage over the last two years, but have proposed maintaining the current millage due to uncertainty caused by COVID and an anticipated reduction in sales tax revenues.

A millage rate is one tenth of a percent, which equates to $1 in taxes for every $1,000 in home value. The millage funds integral operations for the Town’s growing numbers of residents, including public safety services such as Orange County Fire Rescue, the Oakland Police Department, infrastructure projects, and maintaining reserves for emergencies.

Residents with questions about this or any Town business are encouraged to attend Commission meetings and our next Virtual Coffee with the Town Manager at 9 a.m. on August 20. To RSVP, email epappacoda@oaklandfl.gov. For more information on upcoming meeting dates and details, visit www.oaklandfl.gov .