The meeting’s foremost priority was the adoption of the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget, which amounted to $86,155,894, marking an increase of $9,733,103 or 12.7% over the previous year. This budgetary increase is primarily allocated for capital expenditures. The proposed final millage rate was set at 5.37, reflecting a 7.71% increase over the rollback rate of 4.9858, aimed at covering personnel and operational costs. The City Clerk read Resolution 2024-33, which formalized the millage rate adoption, and Resolution 2024-34 for the budget adoption, both of which passed unanimously without public comments.

In a and contentious part of the meeting, the commissioners debated proposed charter amendments concerning the residency requirements for city officials. The proposed changes aimed to expand the residency limits from within city limits to certain unincorporated areas of Tarpon Springs. One participant presented a hypothetical scenario to illustrate the complications these requirements could create, emphasizing the need for flexibility to avoid limiting the pool of potential candidates.

The debate also touched on increasing the threshold for property acquisitions requiring a referendum from $350,000 to $500,000, a change aimed at streamlining transactions. This proposal sparked differing opinions, with one commissioner suggesting a lower threshold of $420,000 to ensure public involvement in property purchases. The conversation underscored the balance between necessary oversight and operational efficiency, with the commissioners recognizing the importance of transparency in funding sources for property acquisitions.

Further discussions addressed the review and management of city action plans and the election process. A proposal was made to require the city to review, update, retire, abandon, or deem completed all master action plans every five fiscal years starting October 1, 2024. However, some members suggested that this requirement might be more appropriate as a policy mandate rather than a charter amendment, citing concerns about burdening voters.

The commissioners also debated the frequency of updates to the citywide strategic plan, agreeing to extend the update period from three years to five years. Additionally, there was a proposal to amend the charter to require that all registered voters receive a first-class mailer regarding upcoming elections, despite concerns about the associated costs estimated between $8,000 to $10,000. The consensus emerged against mandating a first-class mailer, with commissioners suggesting that community pages and social media could serve as more effective outreach methods.

The meeting also revisited the issue of dredging spoil sites, with an understanding that future needs could arise, hence the importance of not dismissing the topic entirely. Relatedly, the board discussed the requirement that the city budget be reviewed in conjunction with the charter’s funding requirements, with some commissioners preferring that this be handled through internal policies rather than explicitly stated in the charter.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on the Sidewalk Improvement Fund, a $2 million fund established for sidewalk maintenance and construction. There was a consensus on the importance of maintaining the fund’s balance to ensure its long-term sustainability.

Finally, the session concluded with a farewell to a long-serving police chief. Board members and the city manager expressed their gratitude and respect for his contributions over 31 years.