High Springs City Commission considers dissolving police department, approves property tax increase

BY JESSE THOMAS FLETCHER

HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. – The High Springs City Commission voted on September 10 to tentatively increase the City’s property tax rate, cut the police budget by 5%, and negotiate with Alachua County to potentially replace City police and fire services with County services.

A motion from Vice Mayor Wayne Bloodsworth Jr. to dissolve the Police Department failed in a 3-2 vote after robust public comment, but after more discussion, Commissioners asked staff to bring back more information before making any decisions about police and fire service.

Higher property tax rate

The Commission approved a tentative rate of 7.24 mills in a 4-1 vote. Mayor Andrew Miller, Vice Mayor Bloodsworth, and Commissioners Tristan Grunder and Chad Howell voted yes. Commissioner Katherine Weitz voted no.

The proposed rate is 8.94% above the rolled-back rate of 6.6458 mills (TRIM notices were mailed with the 7.24-mill rate).

Finance Director Leslie Moyer said the draft budget based on a rate of 6.99 mills would only leave about $2,000 for unexpected expenses. She said higher fuel costs, changes in employees’ health coverage, or an unforeseen invoice could quickly consume that margin.

After the vote, Moyer said she would place the additional revenue, approximately $150,000, into an unallocated account until Commissioners decide where it is needed; Commissioners previously discussed that approach at the August 31 budget workshop.

Weitz was the lone dissenting vote on raising the property tax rate. She argued that Commissioners needed to examine spending before repeatedly increasing the tax rate. “I think we’re doing a disservice to the community,” she said of raising the rate without doing the work to cut costs.

The Commission then unanimously approved the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget on first reading. The second reading is scheduled for September 21. Moyer said the detailed budget provided to commissioners, incorporating changes after the workshop, would be available for that meeting.

Debate over police and fire services

Bloodsworth said the financial information presented to Commissioners had changed his assessment of whether the City could continue funding both the police and fire departments. He also questioned whether Public Works employees were receiving the equipment they needed while the City faced substantial public safety costs.

“Where is the accountability to live within the budget? I couldn’t run my house this way,” Bloodsworth said of the Police Department.

Moyer cautioned that comparisons between departmental budgets were complicated by accounting changes and unfinished audits. 

Grunder blamed past financial mismanagement and inadequate oversight for the City’s predicament. He said major changes were necessary to preserve the City’s ability to operate.

Bloodsworth moved to dissolve the Police Department, retain the Fire Department, and pursue a new fire assessment study. He stated that the fire assessment provided the necessary funding for the Fire Department.

Weitz supported examining police expenses but said she was not ready to eliminate the department without more information. Howell wanted more specific information on a deal with the County.

Police Chief J. Antoine Sheppard defended the value of local officers in protecting residents and downtown businesses but acknowledged that Commissioners had to decide what the City could afford.

Interim Fire Chief Kevin Pearson said the department has eight full-time firefighters assigned to shifts and wants to reach 12. He reported that the department had received six applications in the past several days.

During public comment, Ross Ambrose urged Commissioners to establish exactly which services the County would provide and how a change would affect residents and businesses before making a decision.

“I just don’t think that you have enough data right now to make a decision of this gravity tonight at this level,” Ambrose said.

Spending cuts and County negotiations

After the motion to dissolve the Police Department failed, Commissioners returned to possible reductions within the department. Weitz said she wanted to reduce spending while preserving jobs where possible. 

Sheppard said police department expenses include state-mandated training, and he suggested that he and Interim City Manager Jennifer Applebee should identify the cuts. The Commission unanimously approved a 5% reduction in the police budget that was offered by the department.

Grunder said the State Attorney’s Office “confirmed with me that if we drop the police budget more than 5%, he will sue us and bring litigation.” Florida law allows the State Attorney or a Commissioner to seek an administrative hearing over a proposed cut of more than 5% to a police operating budget.

The Commission authorized Applebee to negotiate in good faith with County fire officials and the Sheriff’s Office, but no final agreement to transfer either department’s services was approved.

During the discussion of police expenses, Weitz questioned a $9,500 Flock Safety line item. Sheppard said the department had obtained the cameras through grant funding and would be removing cameras from state highway locations, although there may be a cost to remove them. He defended the use of Flock cameras as “effective and very instrumental.”

The City is still working on its Fiscal Year 2024-25 audit; Moyer said auditor James Moore’s goal is to finish by December 1.