The 5–0 vote came during the City Council’s final budget hearing for Fiscal Year 2026–2027. Council also unanimously approved the city’s final budget. 

The final rate is lower than the 4.2900 mills that had been established as the tentative rate earlier in the budget process. The city’s rollback rate—the rate expected to generate approximately the same property-tax revenue as the prior year based on the current tax base—was 4.3665 mills. 

A return to Clermont's historic tax rate

The 4.2000-mill rate is particularly notable because Clermont had maintained a 4.2061-mill rate for several years, including 2021 and 2022, before increasing it to 5.0600 mills in 2023.

The city subsequently reduced the rate to 4.8800 mills and then proposed another reduction for the following fiscal year. Clermont's taxable property base has continued to grow during that period, giving the city additional property-tax revenue even as the millage rate has declined. 

City officials have previously pointed to growth in taxable property values as an important factor in their ability to reduce the millage rate while continuing to fund city services and infrastructure.

In July, the city announced that the Council was pursuing a lower millage rate for the second consecutive year. City Manager Rick Van Wagner described the reduction as part of the city's effort to strengthen its financial position while continuing to invest in services and infrastructure. 

Council makes additional cuts to reach 4.200

The Council's final decision went slightly further than the previously proposed rate.

According to a summary of the September 24 meeting, council members discussed additional reductions to the proposed budget in order to bring the rate down from approximately 4.2060 to an even 4.2000 mills. The additional reduction required roughly $40,000 in budget adjustments. 

Among the changes discussed were reductions involving economic-development expenses and communications spending. The final budget resolution also passed unanimously. 

What does 4.2000 mills mean for homeowners?

A mill represents $1 in property taxes for every $1,000 of taxable property value.

At a 4.2000-mill city rate:

These figures represent the City of Clermont's portion only and do not include Lake County, the school district or other taxing authorities. Clermont's financial reports note that the city historically represents roughly one-quarter of a typical property owner's total ad valorem tax bill. 

The actual amount a homeowner pays can also differ substantially depending on exemptions and the property's taxable value.

Part of a broader trend

Clermont's millage reduction comes as the city continues to experience significant growth in its taxable property base.

According to the city's most recent financial report, taxable property value increased from approximately $4.33 billion in 2021 to $6.82 billion in 2025. The city reported taxable-value growth of 12.1%, 14.6% and 13.9% during the three most recent years covered by that report. 

That growth is important because a lower millage rate does not necessarily translate into lower total property-tax revenue for the city when the taxable property base is expanding.

For Clermont residents, the new 4.2000-mill rate will take effect with the city's FY 2026–2027 budget.

The Clermont Current will continue to follow Clermont's budget, tax rates and major financial decisions as the city continues to grow.

Editor's note: The city's publicly indexed September 24 agenda materials still show the previously advertised 4.2900-mill rate. The final 4.2000-mill figure and unanimous vote are based on the reported proceedings of the September 24 final budget hearing; the city's final adopted documents should be used as the definitive legal record once posted.