- High Springs City Commission held a workshop on April 27, 2023, to discuss public safety cuts and alternative revenues for the 2026-27 budget.
- Public safety consumes 64% of the city’s budget, with 42% for police and 21.5% for fire, exceeding recommended limits.
- The fire department has reduced staff to four per shift, risking safety and increasing insurance costs if cuts continue.
- Police department is fully staffed with 14 officers, but proposed cuts could raise response times and affect recruitment negatively.
During an emotionally charged budget workshop on Thursday, the High Springs City Commission weighed the ins and outs of public safety personnel cuts, department eliminations and alternative revenue routes in hopes of addressing ongoing financial deficits.
Commissioner Chad Howell called for the workshop during a regular City Commission meeting in March to prepare for the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal year budget season.
Around 60 people attended the Civic Center, some wearing “Support High Springs Firefighters” shirts as police and fire staff dipped in and out of the building when called on duty…