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Largo commission adopts tentative FY2026 budget, sets final hearing for Sept. 16
Summary
The City of Largo commission adopted Resolution 2443, the tentative FY2026 operating and capital budget, by a 7‑0 roll call. Staff cited priorities including downtown activation and stormwater projects and said a final public hearing is scheduled Sept. 16, 2025.
The City of Largo commission approved Resolution 2443 on Sept. 3, 2025, adopting the tentative operating and capital budget for fiscal year 2026 by a unanimous 7‑0 roll‑call vote. Staff said the tentative budget prioritizes downtown activation, storm‑recovery initiatives, a floodplain manager position (partially funded across funds) and improvements to permitting and customer service.
Staff reviewed factors affecting the budget — slowed revenue growth, rising costs and project plan updates — and described a reconciliation list that includes approximately $9 million in additional expenditures, mainly rebudgets and updated cost estimates for stormwater, mobility, vehicles and facility projects. Staff told commissioners a $948,000 net increase to the stormwater fund is anticipated to be covered by a $950,000 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
During public comment, Matthew Faustini urged caution about long‑term projections, contending personnel costs could rise substantially over five years and warning the plan would reduce capital investment. Staff and commissioners discussed specific rebudgeted items (for example, McDowell Boardwalk expenditures and golf course allocations) and clarified the reason for personnel corrections discovered after the proposed budget.
Commissioners also asked about non‑budget items raised during the dialogue, including a citywide attendance policy being implemented Oct. 1 and collective bargaining implications for CWA negotiations. Staff said attendance policy changes are administrative, not budgetary, and that collective bargaining remains subject to negotiation.
The commission directed staff to post the required public notices on Sept. 14 and return Sept. 16 for the final public hearing and adoption; the FY2026 budget becomes effective Oct. 1, 2025.
Next steps: staff will publish the tentative budget advertisement on Sept. 14 and present the final budget and tax rate for adoption on Sept. 16, 2025.
