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High Springs residents urge commission not to dissolve local police, fire as budget options discussed
Summary
Multiple residents described rapid emergency responses and urged commissioners to preserve the police and fire departments while exploring other budget options. Speakers warned that contracting services or dissolving local departments would lengthen response times and put residents at risk.
A series of impassioned public comments at the March 26 High Springs City Commission meeting urged the city to preserve its police and fire departments as the commission explores budget options.
David Lynch, who spoke during public comment, thanked staff for postponing a potential sale of the Scout Hut and warned against ‘‘paving over our beautiful concrete streets’’ and eliminating local emergency services. ‘‘If we can’t provide fire protection, we might as well dissolve the city,’’ Lynch said.
Several other residents gave firsthand accounts of local emergency responses. Kelly Potter described how an infant choking at her restaurant was reached by the fire department in under two minutes and said contracting services or cutting departments would ‘‘not feel like a proper option.’’ Gary Boothby, a long‑time uniformed public‑safety professional, said his experience in nearby towns showed public safety suffers when local departments are eliminated. ‘‘The last thing y’all want to do is take away your city … fire department or police department,’’ he told the commission.
Michaela and Jessica Whitten provided personal testimony about response times and community ties to officers and firefighters; both warned that longer response times from neighboring agencies would put lives at risk. Michaela said High Springs responded to more than 1,400 life‑threatening situations in 2025 and recounted a recent crash where local responders arrived quickly.
Commissioners did not take formal action during the public‑comment period, but the remarks framed later budget and staffing discussions. Several commissioners acknowledged the concerns and asked staff for more information about staffing, costs and alternatives.
Next steps: commissioners plan budget workshops and follow‑up meetings with department chiefs to review staffing needs and options rather than make an immediate policy change.
