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Record of Proceedings

Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners and CRA Budget Special Session - September 9, 2026

Board of Commissioners & CRA — Wednesday, September 9, 2026
BodyTarpon Springs, Florida
SessionBoard of Commissioners & CRA
DateWednesday, September 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 24:02

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

2:34

Right.

2:35

Are we almost there?

3:01

I now call to order the special session meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the City of Tarpon Springs on Wednesday, September 9th, 2026 at six PM.

3:11

Roll call, please.

Speaker 2

3:13

Mayor Koulianis.

Speaker 1

3:14

Here.

Speaker 2

3:14

Vice Mayor Kulyas.

Speaker 1

3:16

Here.

Speaker 2

3:16

Commissioner Eisner.

Speaker 1

3:17

Here.

Speaker 2

3:17

Commissioner Banther.

3:18

Here.

3:19

Commissioner Weaver.

3:20

Here.

Speaker 1

3:20

As a reminder, the purpose of tonight's meeting is to get additional public input regarding fiscal year twenty twenty-six through twenty twenty-seven budget.

3:32

Um item number one resolution twenty twenty-six twash twenty-six, tentatively adopting the millage rate for the tax year twenty twenty-six.

Speaker 3

3:46

Thank you.

Unassigned speaker

3:47

Uh,

Speaker 3

3:47

floor statute two zero zero dot zero six five sets the procedures for the adoption of the millage rate and budget.

3:53

The tentative millage rate must be approved before the tentative budget.

Unassigned speaker

3:57

The

Speaker 3

3:57

tentative millage rate for tax year twenty twenty-six is five point three seven, the same rate as previous year.

Unassigned speaker

4:05

The

Speaker 3

4:05

tentative millage rate of five point three seven is two point one two percent above the rolled back rate of five point two five eight six.

4:13

The rollback rate is the rate that would provide the same dollar amount of revenue as the previous year.

4:19

The increase over the rollback rate is being used to fund personnel and operating costs.

4:24

This is uh the end of the required discussion on the tentative military.

Speaker 1

4:30

Thank

Unassigned speaker

4:30

you.

Speaker 1

4:33

Then the city clerk will read the resolution in its entirety.

Speaker 4

4:38

Resolution twenty twenty-six dash twenty-six.

4:42

A resolution of the board of commissioners of the city of Tarpin Springs, Florida, tentatively adopting the millage rate for tax year twenty twenty-six, whereas a public hearing was held on September ninth, twenty twenty-six at six PM to adopt a tentative millage rate.

Unassigned speaker

5:00

Now therefore be a result by the Board of Commissioners at the City of Tarpon Springs, Florida, that one, the Advalora millage rate for the tax year 2026 of the City of Tarpon Springs is hereby tentatively established at 5.3700, a 2.12% increase over the rollback rate of 5.2586.

Speaker 4

5:17

Two, the city staff is hereby directed to notify all permanent governmental agencies of the provisions hereof as required by law.

5:24

That is the reading of resolution 2026-26 in its entirety.

Unassigned speaker

5:30

Okay,

Speaker 1

5:30

thank you.

5:31

Are there any public comments?

5:34

If so, please state your name and address for the record, and you'll be given three minutes.

Speaker 5

5:51

And I'm gonna read this.

5:58

I'm representing with Talk to the Sheriff, which is an advocacy group for freedom and humanity in Florida.

6:06

We have a petition that is planned to be presented at a future board meeting.

6:22

But these issues concern the quality of our lives.

6:27

Some of the things talk to the sheriff is presenting.

6:32

I was just gonna read a couple bullet points.

6:47

Every person is entitled to due process.

6:51

Administrative warrants and uh detainers issued by ICE should never substitute for the judicial process.

7:00

Uh our constitution requires every anyone found ineligible for asylum and subject to lawful deportation, should receive a judicial warrant uh before being targeted for removal.

7:18

Uh stop taking parents away from children, regardless of their immigration status.

7:24

Yes, sir.

Speaker 1

7:25

Um I I don't know if you're aware that this is a budget meeting talking about the millage rate.

Speaker 5

7:31

I

Speaker 1

7:31

am I am

Speaker 5

7:32

aware.

Speaker 1

7:33

Yeah, you can

Speaker 5

7:34

uh my point.

7:35

I'm reading from some of the

Speaker 1

7:37

Are you gonna I are is this is this uh this comment you're making have anything to do with our millage rate?

Speaker 5

7:43

It doesn't have exactly to do

Speaker 1

7:45

with I would what I would recommend is that you come to one of our general meetings and because I think this these comments you're making re regard uh relate to our general be um issues and not necessarily a budget, and you'll have much more attendance and there'll be more people listening.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Budget Equity Analysis█████████████████████████████████████████████61%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████17%
Grant Funding███████████15%
Immigration Policy█████7%
Summary of Proceedings

Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners and CRA Budget Special Session - September 9, 2026

The City of Tarpon Springs held a special budget session on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, beginning at 6:00 PM, to receive public input and tentatively adopt the millage rate and budgets for fiscal year 2026-2027. The meeting included both the Board of Commissioners (BOC) and the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). All three resolutions on the agenda were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • One speaker, representing the advocacy group "Talk to the Sheriff," expressed concerns about the potential integration of ICE-style policing into the community and urged the city to remain independent and self-governing. The Mayor noted that the comments appeared unrelated to the budget and suggested the speaker attend a regular meeting for a larger audience, but allowed the speaker to finish his remarks.

Discussion Items

  • Tentative Millage Rate (Resolution 2026-26): Finance Director Ashley Kimpton stated the tentative rate is 5.3700 mills, unchanged from the previous year. This rate is 2.12% above the rollback rate of 5.2586, with the increase funding personnel and operating costs. The resolution was read in full and passed (5-0).
  • Tentative City Budget (Resolution 2026-27): The total tentative budget is $114,898,966, a decrease of approximately $3 million (2.6%) from FY26. The change was described as "relatively flat," with increases in personnel and operating costs offsetting a decrease in capital expenditures. Commissioner Weaver thanked city staff, noting it was Kimpton's first full year with the budget. The resolution passed (5-0).
  • Tentative CRA Budget (CRA Resolution 2026-02): The CRA budget totals $1,343,077, a decrease of $2.1 million (61%) from FY26. The decrease is attributed to the removal of Orange Street construction, which had been budgeted in FY26. The resolution passed (5-0).
  • Subsequent Discussion: Commissioner Banther asked about plans to temporarily repair Orange Street (e.g., a temporary tar overlay) after the removal of CRA funding. City Manager Mark LaCours responded that options would be discussed in October or November when Penny for Pinellas funds are reviewed, and the board will need to decide whether to phase the project or adopt a less costly design. Commissioner Eisner inquired about the total amount of grant applications pending and the historical return rate; LaCours said a summary from the grant specialist would be provided within a week. He noted that future grants may require 50% matching funds, which will be challenging if a state property tax amendment (referred to as "Amendment 3," currently polling at 64% support) passes, further constraining the city's ability to match. He added that the city may need to focus on grants allowing in-kind matches. Commissioner Weaver thanked the grant specialist for her past success in bringing in funds.

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution 2026-26 (Tentative Millage Rate): Approved unanimously (5-0). The tentative millage rate is set at 5.3700 mills.
  • Resolution 2026-27 (Tentative City Budget): Approved unanimously (5-0). The tentative city budget is $114,898,966.
  • CRA Resolution 2026-02 (Tentative CRA Budget): Approved unanimously (5-0). The tentative CRA budget is $1,343,077.
  • Next Steps: The final millage rate and budgets will be formally adopted at a subsequent public hearing later in the fiscal year. The board will discuss Orange Street repairs and grant strategies in upcoming meetings.

Meeting Transcript

Right. Are we almost there? I now call to order the special session meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the City of Tarpon Springs on Wednesday, September 9th, 2026 at six PM. Roll call, please. Mayor Koulianis. Here. Vice Mayor Kulyas. Here. Commissioner Eisner. Here. Commissioner Banther. Here. Commissioner Weaver. Here. As a reminder, the purpose of tonight's meeting is to get additional public input regarding fiscal year twenty twenty-six through twenty twenty-seven budget. Um item number one resolution twenty twenty-six twash twenty-six, tentatively adopting the millage rate for the tax year twenty twenty-six. Thank you. Uh, floor statute two zero zero dot zero six five sets the procedures for the adoption of the millage rate and budget. The tentative millage rate must be approved before the tentative budget. The tentative millage rate for tax year twenty twenty-six is five point three seven, the same rate as previous year. The tentative millage rate of five point three seven is two point one two percent above the rolled back rate of five point two five eight six. The rollback rate is the rate that would provide the same dollar amount of revenue as the previous year. The increase over the rollback rate is being used to fund personnel and operating costs. This is uh the end of the required discussion on the tentative military. Thank you. Then the city clerk will read the resolution in its entirety. Resolution twenty twenty-six dash twenty-six. A resolution of the board of commissioners of the city of Tarpin Springs, Florida, tentatively adopting the millage rate for tax year twenty twenty-six, whereas a public hearing was held on September ninth, twenty twenty-six at six PM to adopt a tentative millage rate. Now therefore be a result by the Board of Commissioners at the City of Tarpon Springs, Florida, that one, the Advalora millage rate for the tax year 2026 of the City of Tarpon Springs is hereby tentatively established at 5.3700, a 2.12% increase over the rollback rate of 5.2586. Two, the city staff is hereby directed to notify all permanent governmental agencies of the provisions hereof as required by law. That is the reading of resolution 2026-26 in its entirety. Okay, thank you. Are there any public comments? If so, please state your name and address for the record, and you'll be given three minutes. And I'm gonna read this. I'm representing with Talk to the Sheriff, which is an advocacy group for freedom and humanity in Florida. We have a petition that is planned to be presented at a future board meeting. But these issues concern the quality of our lives. Some of the things talk to the sheriff is presenting. I was just gonna read a couple bullet points. Every person is entitled to due process. Administrative warrants and uh detainers issued by ICE should never substitute for the judicial process. Uh our constitution requires every anyone found ineligible for asylum and subject to lawful deportation, should receive a judicial warrant uh before being targeted for removal. Uh stop taking parents away from children, regardless of their immigration status. Yes, sir.

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