grammar - $1 to $25 million budget

In the phrase "$1 to $25 million budget," I don't like how that reads in my head -- I feel as if it reads "one to twenty-five million budget." But, I know it's not really accepted to spell out "dollar" if the dollar sign is used. I can't find any strict rules, however, on how to structure a range of millions when it is a descriptor of a noun (in this case, "budget"). What I'd like to use is "$1 to $25 million-dollar budget." Or, is it "million dollar?"

I think I am getting in my own head here. Can someone please just set me straight? Thank you!