City staff presented a set of reductions and deferrals to the proposed FY 2025–26 budget at a Dade City commission workshop, lowering the package of requested personnel and capital projects and identifying existing funds the city must obligate.

Staff said they removed several requested positions from the FY 2025–26 list and will re‑ask for them in FY 2026–27. The items removed from the immediate budget include an information systems administrator, two groundskeeper I positions, one groundskeeper II position and a stormwater trainee. Staff said the timing change is intended to reduce near‑term hiring and training strain on existing departments.

On capital and project budgets, staff reported multiple downward adjustments: the parks upkeep and beautification allotment was cut from $200,000 to $100,000; the sensory playground funding was reduced from $350,000 to $150,000 with staff planning to seek grants; a security‑fencing line was reduced from $300,000 to $150,000; and cemetery improvements were reduced from $100,000 to $50,000 while the city completes a survey and related work.

Staff also reported lower costs for certain vendor items and clarified project timing. Axon technical management costs were updated to about $37,500 (down from $75,000). A splash pad cover was budgeted at $10,000 as a cover and weather protection for equipment. Several larger capital projects remained in the plan, including Morningside Drive (budgeted at $4,000,000 in the draft total) and wastewater plant work (budgeted at $3,200,000). Staff said the overall draft budget had been reduced from earlier drafts and now sits a bit above $63,000,000, compared with a prior year budget of about $57,000,000.

Staff also told commissioners that the Community Redevelopment Agency holds about $11,200,000 that must be programmed or spent so the city will not return those dollars. “We have $11,200,000.0 in CRA funding that we'll have to work on, utilizing so that we don't have to give that CRA funding back,” a staff member said.

Why it matters: the changes shrink the near‑term hiring plan and defer some capital work while preserving key public‑safety, utilities and streets projects. Commissioners repeatedly emphasized that police, utilities and public works staffing and service continuity are priorities; Public Works director William Toner and the police chief both confirmed department‑level staffing pressures and said targeted hiring decisions will be necessary.

Commissioners asked staff for more granular information on capital items and the extent to which the $63 million figure includes grant proceeds and previously‑available funds. Staff said they will provide a breakdown showing which capital projects are already funded and which require new appropriations.

What’s next: staff will incorporate the commission’s direction into the draft budget, include the CRA funding plan, and provide a project‑by‑project capital summary for commissioners before the next meeting. Staff also committed to complete job descriptions and linked evaluation tools so merit and performance decisions can be made consistently next year.