[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6201764,"mediaKeyId","3789090-c2d917a6c800b45d149bc400225d1fce","parentId",3789090,"title","High Springs outlines road projects, transportation funds and sign-shop choices as FEMA reimbursements lag","audioSeconds",706,"startMs",1763000,"endMs",2469000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3789090-c2d917a6c800b45d149bc400225d1fce&start=1763&end=2469","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3789090-c2d917a6c800b45d149bc400225d1fce/thumbnail_1763000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6201764/High-Springs/Alachua-County/Florida/High-Springs-outlines-road-projects-transportation-funds-and-sign-shop-choices-as-FEMA-reimbursements-lag","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6201764-cf86f4609d6212d98c3b6ab3e1e875ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1775204066&Signature=SrwUWqLdLvUVTyySq9bKrVelULS9Z97ryO-4B0Ib-ce8I8hG9B7bKIIOglbxe90TrtQxYp~EEB1JLKWtm1pE3XF1E~1-~MkjAivC-dhklgyZC~ayz5hXiqyzCnbAZtBcJZwdgOVbVBgdyvNxEdR7wsokID7yHIDX5rNPquChuYia-xtB12ZMsMo5bcgIjZ8nJCkKkWrD-DVEHpWfykBvQ~ZhhKCUvh5DjH4iKfBEJuQJWZcZDeu4GZunXCTBdI~rZ6p6jOg3kYr8LSKHQPi1OcM2r9FUvGwxLHy4w5pIC7AUIE0qLZma61Thu7tilMhiox49B~oLJ6qanCE0FhDZhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of High Springs, FL","date","2025-06-12T21:29:18Z","article","Public Works staff and commissioners discussed roads, transportation funding and capital planning at the June 12 High Springs budget workshop, with staff outlining current revenues, planned projects and reimbursement status for storm-related costs.

The transportation presentation showed local option gas tax revenue of about $423,523 for the fund. Staff said the transportation fund carries a prior-year balance and that a transfer to the general fund (previously set at roughly $269,000) has been reduced over time when possible. Staff also said the city's infrastructure fund, fed by the wild spaces half-cent sales tax, has grown to roughly $500,000 and could be used for roads projects.

Public Works Director Jason Bridal said the city is out to bid on a multi-street resurfacing project; bids were expected to be opened mid-June with an item to be presented at the commission meeting on June 20. \"There's about 15 streets I put down,\" Bridal said, describing a priority list that balanced traffic volume and pavement condition across the city.

Staff and commissioners discussed financing approaches. One commissioner suggested evaluating borrowing against predictable transportation revenues so the city could complete larger projects sooner rather than piecemeal; staff said municipalities commonly use local-option gas tax revenues as a basis to repay loans but that detailed financial analysis would be needed.

The commission also reviewed a city sign shop that has seen little use. Staff said the building (a shed) cost about $17,000 and the sign-making machine and associated supplies were purchased, but the shop has not been put into regular operation because of training and software needs. Commissioners asked whether the city should surplus the equipment or repurpose the shed if the shop is not expected to be used frequently.

On storm-related reimbursements, a staff representative said High Springs has received some FEMA payments (about $37,000 from the earlier event referenced as \"Debbie\") but that the larger reviews and reimbursements remain pending because the federal review process has slowed. \"We are receiving reimbursement for the majority of that overtime,\" the staff representative said, but added that reviews have \"slowed down tremendously\" and that staff continue to respond to federal requests for information.

No formal action on roads funding or borrowing was taken at the workshop. Staff said bids and more detailed cost estimates would be presented at an upcoming meeting to inform commission direction and potential capital-planning or financing decisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 12, 2025 Budget Workshop","oneSentenceSummary","At the June 12 budget workshop, Public Works staff reviewed roads and transportation budgets, local-option gas tax revenues and an infrastructure fund; commissioners were briefed on an out-to-bid resurfacing package, a largely unused sign shop and delayed FEMA reimbursements from recent storms.","taxTitle","High Springs, Alachua County, Florida","taxId",54325,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6201769,"High Springs budgets $55,000 for cemetery operations; older Pine Hill plots remain privately controlled",189,1514000,1703000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3789090-c2d917a6c800b45d149bc400225d1fce&start=1514&end=1703","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3789090-c2d917a6c800b45d149bc400225d1fce/thumbnail_1514000.jpg","/articles/6201769/High-Springs/Alachua-County/Florida/High-Springs-budgets-55000-for-cemetery-operations-older-Pine-Hill-plots-remain-privately-controlled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6201769-a8a323ff1dbc551fc6c9efef198e6cbf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775204066&Signature=TAAflsWsGgIWW4BVRVTEf454VJJbc~Lhdr2hCdVwYxhn-TIvNwweMYr3JeEKsfKaY0ucqfpva5VO072AvViUorgJkpxrcf9ohN9iCljGiQJBbx83uPW37vjKtBv4uy1ezVmSQI4PAjjhSneVPCCj5u5UeSjklgPF-ckdHCA1ca~vpYCDzqNhI6fQiF9tghj0AeDSMGjZqfkAEvzDnisUfVEd-C-25kPA55uyGegAv4ru1Qmlp7cWJ9umTHLUBFSJHU39yKKIDLaXXWtry9izuTX34LSEhB7M-QeViKxywCAg-u89dSoXIWMYIgItpDqnhGEQRawxpRxZSDYLGryuSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public Works Director Jason Bridal told the City Commission at the June 12 budget workshop that the cemetery budget covers one full-time cemetery employee and routine maintenance expenses and that the city tracks a separate cemetery fund created by resolution.

Bridal said the cemetery line items include salaries and benefits for a single employee, utilities, repair and maintenance for cemetery grounds and equipment, operating supplies, fuel and employee uniforms. He identified a total cemetery budget of about $55,000 for the period covered in the presentation.

Bridal explained the city maintains a separate cemetery fund for plot fees and transfers money from that fund into the general fund to cover the actual maintenance costs. \"We do have the cemetery fund that the fees go into when somebody comes in and buys a plot,\" Bridal said, describing the accounting practice as \"a separate fund as required by resolution.\"

Commissioners raised historical-record and mapping questions about Pine Hill cemetery. Bridal said the city's jurisdiction covers the newer Pine Hill section but that an older portion of Pine Hill is not administered by the city; callers seeking details about plots in that older section are referred to a private contact or family-plotted records.

No formal action was taken on cemetery spending at the workshop; the briefing was presented to inform broader budget discussions.","Public Works Director Jason Bridal presented a cemetery budget of about $55,000 and said a separate cemetery fund, created by resolution, pays maintenance; Bridal said the older section of Pine Hill is not managed by the city and callers are directed to a private contact.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":79,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6201774,"High Springs reviews police budget, flags pay and staffing as top challenges",1344,170000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3789090-c2d917a6c800b45d149bc400225d1fce&start=170&end=1514","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3789090-c2d917a6c800b45d149bc400225d1fce/thumbnail_170000.jpg","/articles/6201774/High-Springs/Alachua-County/Florida/High-Springs-reviews-police-budget-flags-pay-and-staffing-as-top-challenges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6201774-7d74f2aea9197deabc0010fbb17a65c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775204066&Signature=O30ny2fAGX45N0Yh7li9Ad0u-jsoVyDhBDUUu6n5sA~y9A8k-NvcvQib~~bkLjwsN7AuOD2tXJNfzDuCqyIX2mTX39-nFRUEinLlkX6xJuWS3tyOMYKIZjpHvkOmO1H0YnfPFyY30jR4-bUVkRHUtv0pTv3iwLvG5BUhZADoPZ-kARe9R8wLzWu1-UXqgeaysT0RncXtIciFCocnizQ3B6BCAXQ8DVdAi5B1ZypeuQ2VrzFGTTkSxPe4CZYWAENDci~OXmDIxARWFBuFqv5Dv-buBpqUz4XPQ9SA2DGzXiEr3bLnu~~u07soAmyVJahDoPfZdejWZLXhygLeNQYj3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard told the City Commission at its June 12 budget workshop that the police department represents \"a significant portion of your budget\" and described response-time goals, personnel counts and equipment costs as central budget drivers.

Sheppard said the department averages about 6 to 10 minutes to respond to non-priority calls and about 2 to 4 minutes for priority calls. He told commissioners the department is a 24/7 operation, with salaries comprising the largest share of the department's operating costs.

The chief said the department has about 19 full-time officers, including himself, and keeps roughly four to five reserve officers who volunteer regularly but may be paid for events or paid details. He described a mix of leased and owned patrol vehicles and said the department maintains \"over 30 vehicles.\"

Sheppard described several budget lines and programs: overtime (including billable overtime for off-duty details), training and travel, professional services, an outsourced dispatch contract, and technology costs such as servers and body-worn cameras. He said the department has used state grants to purchase body armor, noting a grant of about $25,000 that covered vests priced at about $1,300 each.

On workforce development, Sheppard said about half of his officers hold college degrees and that the department offers education reimbursement based on grades; he described the reimbursement as scaled by grade but did not provide the exact schedule. He said the agency encourages certifications (for example, K-9, traffic homicide investigator, instructor) and described an internal promotion and assignment process tied to training and experience.

Commissioners asked about contract timing and pay. City staff confirmed the police union contract is a three-year agreement with an annual opener; negotiations were under way. Sheppard told the commission the department must be competitive with surrounding jurisdictions to retain officers, citing regional pay differences as the principal reason officers leave.

Discussion points: commissioners questioned projected next-year costs, the mix of leased versus owned vehicles, reserve-officer practices, and School Resource Officer coverage after a recent departure. Sheppard said the SRO vacancy is being filled internally and that the department had put out an internal posting.

No formal budget vote or action on the police budget was taken at the workshop. The presentation was informational and intended to help commissioners read and understand police budget line items ahead of the 2026 budget process.

Looking ahead, Sheppard told the commission that increasing starting pay and step-plan adjustments would be the department's main budget priorities to remain competitive in recruitment and retention.","At a June 12 budget workshop, Police Chief Antoine Sheppard outlined the police department's operating budget, staffing levels, response-time targets and training investments, emphasizing pay competitiveness as the primary retention issue.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

High Springs outlines road projects, transportation funds and sign-shop choices as FEMA reimbursements lag

High Springs budgets $55,000 for cemetery operations; older Pine Hill plots remain privately controlled

High Springs reviews police budget, flags pay and staffing as top challenges