CLEARWATER, Fla. — Clearwater officers are getting ready a contingency funds plan that might minimize almost 140 full-time positions and scale back funding for a number of metropolis companies if Amendment 3 passes and the town loses greater than $20 million in property tax income.
The proposed cuts, waiting for fiscal years 2028 and 2029, would have an effect on working budgets for the library, parks and recreation, planning and growth, and the police division. Other potential reductions embrace layoffs, cuts to the police know-how funds and impacts to irrigation.
Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy stated the primary section of cuts would go away a number of positions unfilled in 2028.
“We will not fill eight sworn positions, one sworn supervisory position and one civilian grant accreditation manager in phase one, so you know that would be 2028,” Gandy stated. “And that’s a lot, because I had plans for all of those positions to really enhance our crime fighting ability.”
The plan additionally calls for eliminating funding to some third-party organizations, together with the Clearwater Historical Society, Wood Valley and Kings Highway recreation amenities, and Keep Pinellas Beautiful.
Clearwater Historical Society President Allison Dolan stated the Clearwater Historical Society Museum runs on volunteers and donations. She stated the town’s $25,000 contribution helps cowl primary wants.
(*3*) Dolan stated, including the funding additionally helps museum reveals when sponsorships aren’t out there.
“It’s at all times a good suggestion to have a 100-year-old constructing, til, it’s a must to repair it. For our reveals, a few of them we don’t at all times get sponsorships for,” Dolan added.
The metropolis stated getting ready now will put Clearwater able to reply successfully to a monetary shift.