Lady Lake officials highlight 2025 achievements; schedule workshops on property‑tax contingency and police station study

Town staff delivered a short "2025 year in review" at the Jan. 5 commission meeting, outlining administrative changes, completed projects and planned near‑term work.

The presentation said the finance department welcomed a new finance director, Joe Wallow, and an assistant finance director, Randy Carson, and is implementing Springbrook software for budget reporting and payroll. The library completed an upstairs expansion for the children’s library with new furniture arriving and an open house tentatively planned for February. Staff also highlighted public‑safety staffing: the police department reached full staffing and added 10 officers and two new patrol intent (supervisory) positions; staff noted a successful reaccreditation.

Information technology additions (two new IT staff members named Tanner and Kevin) and a cybersecurity training program were highlighted; staff said the town plans a public cybersecurity seminar at the library in January. Communications staff (Alicia) were credited with boosting the town’s visibility and live streaming efforts.

Commissioners used the reports to plan two workshops: a property‑tax and revenue contingency workshop to prepare for a potential state proposal to eliminate local property taxes (a preliminary workshop was proposed for Jan. 21 at 4:30 p.m., with managers to finalize materials), and a rescheduled workshop for a police‑station study presentation later in January. Commissioners emphasized the need to plan for changes to sovereign‑immunity limits and other state‑level proposals that could affect town insurance and budgets.

No formal action was taken on the presentations. Commissioners thanked staff and moved on to other agenda items.