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Candidates warn of deep cuts if Florida property-tax amendment passes, urge local budget scrutiny
Summary
At the Clearwater forum, candidates said a proposed statewide property-tax amendment could shave millions from city revenue and force line-by-line cuts to preserve police, fire and stormwater work; they urged careful local budgeting and public engagement.
Moderator told the audience a November ballot amendment could change homestead exemptions beginning Jan. 1, 2027, and that the Pinellas County appraisal office (as cited in the forum) estimated up to $16 million in local losses in the first year.
Candidates uniformly described the potential reduction as serious. Mark Bunker called Tallahassee’s approach ‘‘irresponsible’’ and said the money at stake funds police, fire, and infrastructure. Jared Leone warned that the city depends on stable local funding for parks, roads and public safety and urged examining efficiencies without sacrificing core services.
Kevin RT Lachland and others described 'home rule' concerns: if local revenue declines, municipalities may need to seek state relief or consider handing services to county governments, a step some candidates worried would erode local control. Sam Wilson and Bianca Lvala emphasized fiscal discipline, budget reviews and public-private partnerships as ways to manage revenue shortfalls.
No candidate proposed a specific set of cuts; instead, they said the new council should scrutinize budgets line by line to protect essential services. Candidates also urged that residents follow the referendum process and ask lawmakers for clearer engagement with local jurisdictions before such statewide changes take effect.
