Fort Pierce homeowners: your 2026–27 city tax rate, budget and utility bill, explained

Your new property tax bill will show up in November. Before it does, here’s what the City of Fort Pierce decided for the year that started October 1, 2026, and what changed on your FPUA utility bill.

The city tax rate: 6.9 mills, same as last year

The Fort Pierce City Commission voted 5–0 on September 21, 2026, to set the city tax rate at 6.9 mills. That was the final vote. The first vote, also 5–0, was on September 15. Both votes are recorded in the meeting minutes the city posted for approval.

A “mill” is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of your home’s taxable value. So if your home’s taxable value is $150,000, the city part of your bill is about $1,035 (150 × 6.9).

The rate did not change. But taxable property values in the city went up 6.91%, to about $5.2 billion. So the same rate brings in more money. Florida law compares the rate to a “rolled-back rate.” That is the rate that would bring in the same money as last year. For Fort Pierce, that rate was 6.5461 mills. The city’s ordinance says 6.9 is 5.41% above it.

What the $73.3 million budget pays for

The city’s main operating budget, called the General Fund, is $73,263,742. That is $5,476,531 more than last year. Here are the main points from the city’s September 15 budget hearing:

• Property tax money: $34,263,767, up $2,250,931 from last year.
• Police: $25,379,521, or 35% of the General Fund.
• No cost-of-living raises for city workers or sworn officers.
• Two new code enforcement officers, paid for by the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency.
• $4,956,501 for building repairs and new equipment.
• $3,570,601 in leftover money moved over from savings for capital projects.

Nobody from the public spoke at either budget hearing, the minutes show.

Your trash fee and your FPUA bill

The Fort Pierce Utilities Authority, or FPUA, sends one combined bill. It can include electric, water, wastewater (sewer), natural gas and internet. FPUA also bills the city’s garbage, recycling and beautification fees on the same bill.

FPUA raised its electric, water, wastewater and gas charges by 2.23% on March 1, 2026. The board did this using a yearly price index set by the Florida Public Service Commission. Here is how some home rates changed, from FPUA’s rate sheet:

• Electric customer charge: $7.45 a month, up from $7.29.
• Electric energy charge, first 750 kWh: $0.11512 per kWh, up from $0.11434.
• Water minimum charge (standard home meter): $36.48, up from $35.67.
• Wastewater customer charge: $22.19, up from $21.71. The monthly sewer charge is capped at $101.69.

Homes inside city limits also pay a 10% utility tax on electric and water. For trash, the city’s website lists $34 a month for curbside service. That covers two garbage pickups, one recycling pickup and one yard waste pickup each week. The city says property taxes do not pay for trash service, and it reviews trash rates every year. We did not find a new 2026 trash or stormwater rate in the budget papers we read. Check your bill each month to be sure.

Amendment 3 and the city budget

On November 3, 2026, Florida voters will decide Amendment 3. It needs 60% to pass. It would add a new homestead exemption on non-school property taxes. The exemption would cover the first $150,000 of assessed value in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. School taxes would still apply. Supporters say property taxes are too heavy for homeowners. Critics say the change could cost local governments a lot.

In July, city commissioners warned that a state property tax change could cut city revenue by millions over three years. At the September 21 meeting, Commissioner Curtis Johnson Jr. said the city will hold community workshops on Amendment 3. He said he worried about its effect on city finances. Commissioner Michael Broderick urged citizens to vote no. Mayor Linda Hudson noted that Florida TaxWatch opposes it and that it has no carve-out for law enforcement.

What to do

1. Watch your mailbox in November. Pay early to save: 4% in November, 3% in December, 2% in January and 1% in February. Pay by March to avoid being late. Pay online at tcslc.com or call the St. Lucie County Tax Collector at 772-462-1650.
2. Check your home’s value and exemptions with the Property Appraiser at paslc.gov or 772-462-1000. The deadline to file for exemptions, like homestead, is March 1.
3. Read your FPUA bill line by line. Questions? Call FPUA customer service at 772-466-1600, ext. 3900. For outages, call 772-466-7703.
4. Want to speak up on next year’s budget? Call Fort Pierce City Hall at 772-467-3000. Commission agendas are posted at cityoffortpierce.com.
5. Learn about Amendment 3 before November 3. Read the ballot language and both sides before you vote.