Atlantic Beach council splits over proposed $1.3M budget, staffing and attorney fees

Town of Atlantic Beach officials debated staffing levels, legal fees and recordkeeping needs during a June 22 special session as the town manager presented a proposed FY2026–27 budget that staff said totals about $1.3 million.

Town manager Titus Leaks told council he had added $2,000 for GovPossible permit software to digitize business-license and building-permit records, one additional laptop for staff and roughly $8,000 for IT and cybersecurity to protect town-hall and police records after an employee e-mail was compromised. "We had some e-mails that were compromised," Leaks said, arguing the town needs town-issued devices and protections.

Leaks also proposed increasing vehicle-maintenance funding by $5,000 as the town works to restore a police department and adding $4,000 to raise the hourly rate for a code-enforcement position from $20 to $25. He said the building official would be paid from inspection fees (currently $175 per inspection) so that position would not increase the taxpayer burden.

Council members expressed sharp disagreement over personnel and legal spending. Councilwoman Jacqueline Gore repeatedly questioned higher proposed salaries and whether the small, "four-block" town could sustain them. "I don't feel comfortable paying all my little taxpayer money into salaries," Gore said, urging restraint and saying the town had functioned with fewer staff in the past.

Mayor Pro Tem John David and other members raised concerns about the town's legal expenses and a contract the council said differed from what it believed was approved earlier in the year. David said recent attorney costs were "not something that is sustainable" and asked for the contract arrangement to be reviewed. Leaks said he budgeted a $25,000 legal reserve after consulting the accountant and to ensure funds for litigation support and unforeseen legal work.

The meeting included extended debate over whether the town had previously collected business-license late fees and how recently staff had begun cross-checking IRS data to find underpayments. Leaks said his office identified businesses that had been underpaying and that stronger recordkeeping and staff capacity would help the town collect revenues it had been missing.

Council and staff also flagged gaps in recordkeeping and accountability: officials could not locate documentation for revenue from an EV charging station and emphasized the plan to digitize records so future grants and projects can be managed. Leaks noted the town had to be able to manage grants effectively if it pursues them.

The tensions surfaced during votes later in the meeting: council unanimously approved Resolution 11-2026 authorizing the town manager to pay two invoices over $5,000 for law-enforcement services, but the body recorded split votes on business-license and budget ordinances (see "Votes at a glance").

The council set a Planning Commission meeting for July 16 to consider a comprehensive plan and land-management ordinance changes; Mr. Leaks urged residents to participate. The meeting adjourned following the day's business.