High Springs’ draft 2026-27 budget has “very tight” margins

BY JESSE THOMAS FLETCHER

HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. – At the August 31 budget workshop, the High Springs City Commission reviewed a draft Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget that Finance Director Leslie Moyer said would maintain current services at the existing property tax rate, but with thin margins. Commissioners also discussed raising property taxes and asked staff to obtain cost estimates for replacing City services with services provided by Alachua County.

The draft budget is based on the City’s current property tax rate of $6.99 for every $1,000 of taxable property value (6.99 mills). Moyer said the draft budget “funds fire, it funds police, it funds operations as you know it.” She added, “It’s very tight.”

Commissioners discussed a higher property tax rate of 7.24 mills, which Moyer said would generate approximately $150,000 in additional property tax revenue; 7.24 mills is the amount that appeared on the TRIM notices sent to property owners, and the City can reduce the rate in its final budget but cannot increase it. If the City increases the rate, Moyer recommends setting the additional money aside for unforeseen expenses, rather than assigning it to a department.

Debt and financial reporting

Commissioner Katherine Weitz noted three wastewater-related debt obligations, which Moyer said require approximately $830,000 in annual debt payments. “It’s just kind of stunning to see how much debt we’re still carrying from 20 years ago, that we’re still going to be carrying for another 20 years,” Weitz said.

Moyer said those obligations include two wastewater-treatment projects and a share of the City’s automated-metering project. The $830,000 figure discussed at the workshop represents annual payments, not the City’s total outstanding debt.

When Weitz asked for more detail comparing current spending with the proposed budget, Moyer said the City was behind on paying some bills and had not posted all payroll transactions, preventing her from producing a reliable report for some comparisons. 

Grunder praises new finance director

Commissioner Tristan Grunder thanked Moyer for the new budget format. 

“I know the type of mess you walked into, and thank you, because this is exactly what we have needed for quite a long time, that has not been done, and you’re doing it,” Grunder said. 

Later in the workshop, he called it “refreshing” to have a finance director who could answer commissioners’ questions. 

The City’s Fiscal Year 2023-24 audit and Annual Financial Report became overdue during the tenures of former Finance Director Diane Wilson and former City Manager Jeremy Marshall. State officials later confirmed that the late filings caused High Springs to permanently lose $73,449.32 in half-cent sales tax distributions.

Public safety costs

“We’re talking about pennies when we need to be talking about dollars here,” Grunder said. He called for commissioners to examine major recurring costs, such as police and fire services.

Commissioners directed staff to obtain firm estimates from Alachua County about the cost and terms of possible County fire coverage; they also asked staff to examine consolidating management of the City’s public safety departments. Staff said a prior conversation produced a preliminary estimate of about $1.6 million for County fire service, but the figure was not guaranteed.

Weitz also asked whether the City could contract with another law-enforcement agency or reduce overnight staffing. Commissioner Chad Howell said another agency would not provide service for free and warned that reducing the three officers assigned at night could create safety and jurisdictional problems. 

No decision was made to eliminate or reduce any public safety department.

Residents urge firm figures

Resident Ross Ambrose urged commissioners to define what they would expect from the County. “Rather than just having this open conjecture about it, the Commission needs to give staff direction to go and negotiate and actually have a list of requirements,” Ambrose said. He warned that uncertainty could encourage firefighters to leave.

Residents George and Christina Tatum also urged the Commission not to dismiss smaller savings. Christina Tatum said officials should account for employee payouts and the effects on workers’ families before eliminating a department.

Other savings

Commissioners did discuss eliminating smaller expenses. Moyer recommended overhauling the farmers’ market token system because the City currently absorbs credit-card processing fees on purchases. She suggested that customers using debit/credit cards should pay vendors directly instead of purchasing tokens.

Staff was asked to review facility rental and business license fees, expenses at City facilities, and compliance with existing contracts. Commissioners also discussed impact fees and unused City property. Moyer said some City facilities are leased for only $10 per year.

Commissioners did not schedule another workshop before adjourning. Instead, they planned to submit questions to Moyer and meet with staff while Interim City Manager Jennifer Applebee seeks updated information from the County. 

The first budget vote is scheduled for Sept. 10.