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Keystone Heights pauses skate‑park push as state property‑tax proposals threaten city budget
Summary
Mayor proposed a long-discussed skate park, but council agreed to wait for the outcome of state property‑tax reform. City Manager said proposals under consideration could nearly double the city’s projected budget deficit and would require cuts to events and nonessential spending.
Mayor Nina Rodenroth told the council she wants to spearhead a skate park project that has been discussed for more than a decade, and suggested staff seek grants and funding. Councilman Brandon Ludwig proposed locating the facility near Sunrise Park to use the new Nightingale sidewalk corridor for access, but Councilman Ryan Knight urged holding off until state legislative action on property‑tax reform is resolved.
City Manager James Booth summarized the potential fiscal impact of pending state proposals (SJR 2‑F) and how they could affect the city’s draft FY26/27 budget. Booth said the city’s draft budget began with about a $170,000 deficit and that the Senate proposals could drive that to roughly a $300,000 deficit. He said balancing the budget under that scenario would require cutting non‑essential spending, eliminating city‑hosted events and shifting positions and funds to infrastructure or CRA accounts.
