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Ballard Partners summarizes 2025 session, flags property tax and local appropriation priorities
Summary
Ballard Partners recapped the 2025 Florida legislative session for Largo, noting 1,900 bills filed and 269 passed, updates to the Live Local Act, and state budget shifts; the firm outlined three 2026 appropriation requests and urged diversified project nominations amid an uncertain property‑tax debate.
Carlos Ramos of Ballard Partners briefed the commission on the 2025 Florida legislative session and presented proposed 2026 legislative and federal agendas. Ramos said about 1,900 bills were filed in 2025 with 269 ultimately passing and described budget negotiations that produced an approximately $115 billion state budget after vetoes.
Ramos highlighted several bills that fell short in 2025 but are likely to reappear in 2026, including proposals to raise sovereign immunity caps (HP 472), changes to property tax structures and proposals affecting local business taxes and stormwater inspection requirements (SB 810). He summarized enacted legislation that will affect local governments, including updates to the Live Local Act that expand multifamily allowances on certain commercially zoned properties and an emergency‑related bill (SB 180) that constrains land‑use changes after declared storms and requires local jurisdictions to post storm‑recovery permitting information online.
On appropriations, Ramos said Largo secured $950,000 toward the Pine Crest stormwater conservation area and proposed three appropriation requests for 2026: $3.8 million for Starkey Road flood mitigation, $1.2 million for Alice Creek flood mitigation and $840,000 for the Largo Central Park amphitheater. He advised the commission to diversify requests and noted some funded projects can be later vetoed in the governor’s line‑item review.
Commissioners pressed staff and Ballard Partners on the ongoing property tax reform conversations at the state level and how municipal revenue would be replaced if property tax levies are curtailed. Ballard and staff said they are tracking House select committee work, preparing local data responses and coordinating with regional partners and legislators on the city’s agenda.
