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Tarpon Springs warned of sharp reserves drop if property‑tax referendum passes; commissioners seek cuts and vacancy savings
Summary
Finance staff projected that the city’s unassigned fund balance could fall from about 20% to roughly 10% in year one if a property‑tax referendum passes, and decline further in year two, prompting commissioners to request vacancy lists, department‑level cuts and public outreach.
Tarpon Springs finance staff told the Board of Commissioners on July 7 that a property‑tax referendum under consideration could cut the city’s reserves sharply and force a combination of spending cuts, service reductions or new revenue streams.
“Right now, this is as if the property‑tax bill does not pass,” Finance Director Ashley Kimpton said while reviewing a reserves worksheet; she said, “If the property tax bill passes, we see severe impacts on our general fund,” estimating a drop to about 10% of operating budget in the first year and a further decrease the following year if no offsets are found.
Commissioners responded by asking staff to quantify vacancy savings, identify budgeted-but-unfilled positions and produce department‑level scenarios. One commissioner urged the board to consider restoring earlier symbolic reductions to commissioner pay as an example and to set an immediate tone of restraint.
Kimpton emphasized that the worksheet was a baseline projection showing the effect of reduced property‑tax revenue if no changes were made to expenditures or other revenues. “That’s only reducing property taxes...This is just showing you if we leave everything as is,” she said.
The board discussed options: find new revenues, cut costs or scale back services. Several members asked for a town‑hall style public forum to lay out the fiscal tradeoffs and ensure residents understand how projected revenue losses would translate into fewer or delayed projects and services. Staff agreed to provide detailed memos and to prepare public‑facing materials in advance of scheduled hearings.
Next steps: staff will deliver a vacancies list, scenario analyses and public‑education materials ahead of the August workshop and September hearings.
