On Sept. 23, the Marathon City Council unanimously approved the final budget for fiscal year 2025-26 that includes a property tax rollback for the third consecutive year.
The council rejected a proposed millage rate of 2.2235 mills, which would have generated a 7.77% increase in property taxes, in favor of the rollback rate of 2.0631 mills. The rollback rate means property owners will pay $206.31 per $100,000 of taxable property value, the same tax burden as the current fiscal year.
The rollback was possible due to ongoing budget management. The city’s general fund reserves have accumulated to about $26 million, enough to support operations for more than a year.
“Only a handful of municipalities throughout Florida were able to achieve a rollback rate for three consecutive years,” said city manager George Garrett.
The budget brings Marathon’s fire rescue staffing to 48 employees, meeting National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 1500) standards for the first time. These positions were allocated in the prior year’s budget, but were not filled for various reasons.
The fire department will receive a new $1,072,909 engine truck in November 2026 to replace a 2007 model, and a new $320,000 fire/rescue transport vehicle scheduled to arrive in May 2026.
The city is replacing three aging public works trucks and started using a new system to track vehicle maintenance.
Public works crews have recently taken on additional responsibilities from FDOT, including maintaining roads and landscaping throughout the city. The new trucks and expanded crew are already working daily across Marathon.
Multiple projects are underway, including skate park construction at Marathon Community Park, a splash pad with a new bathroom and concession window, an information and security station at Sombrero Beach, a new maintenance and storage building at Community Park, pickleball courts, replacement of three bridges in Little Venice, and others. Most of these projects are supported by grants.
Marathon also faces a federally mandated requirement to develop a deepwater well for wastewater treatment as part of a five-year plan. City officials are seeking state and federal grants to complete the project. The council also required staff to complete an analysis of the utilities efficiencies as Marathon builds the new deep well and continues to manage otherwise aging infrastructure.
The city operates with 139 full-time employees, including 48 Marathon Fire Rescue personnel, serving roughly 9,000 residents.
The fiscal year runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.
