The City of Largo presented an alternative budget at its Oct. 6 commissioners meeting.
This week, the city of Largo showed residents what its budget might look like in 2028 if Florida’s Amendment 3 passes. City services could be reduced across the board.
Under the hypothetical budget, library hours would be cut in half — down to just 28 hours a week.
Largo Fire Rescue would lose over $5 million, eliminating 28 full-time staff and reducing the number of trucks. The police department would eliminate its crossing guard program and require schools to pay more for resource officers while eliminating 29 full-time staff.
The parks and recreation department could close several parks, the Largo Community Center and the Highland Aquatics Center.
Commissioner Chris Johnson reminded residents that this is what the budget could look like if the city didn’t raise funds. Raising millage rates and assessing fees are potential paths to recoup lost revenue.
“I know this is heart-wrenching for every department head to have to do and the people that work for you,” Johnson said at the meeting. “I’ve had to do this at my company, I think a lot of us have had to do it at our companies, and it’s horrible. But we have to know what it looks like first.”
City commissioners noted that they would likely have to raise funds in other ways, like increased taxes and fees, or increasing the millage rate.
Commissioner Curtis Holmes suggested privatizing most city services and even renting out city facilities.
“Well there’s other venues there,” Holmes said at the meeting. “You could take the cultural center in Central Park and just rent the thing out to a private company. You’ll get a lot of money back on that. You’ll get almost a million dollars back on that one alone.”
The city stressed that the budget was purely informational and not intended as an endorsement of any voting position.