Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Dunedin public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
31 issues in taxes budget
City Manager Compensation and Morale
Commissioners praised City Manager Jennifer Bramley but split 3-2 on her raise, approving 3% rather than the 3.5% given to other managers. Two residents publicly opposed any raise while the city plans layoffs under Amendment 3.
Penny for Pinellas V renewal and project priorities
The 1% sales tax that pays for big capital projects expires in 2029 and returns to the ballot in November 2028. Dunedin expects about $63 million but departments want $91.4 million in projects — Fire Station 60 replacement ($21.5M), Highlander Aquatic Complex ($16.5M), pavement management ($15M) and more. Expect lots of needs-vs-wants debate.
Fine-setting procedure moved to second hearing
The city attorney's office changed the board's template so fine amounts are now set at the second hearing, after members see whether owners actually made progress — inspectors no longer recommend a dollar figure up front.
Final ARPA Funds Disbursement
With $382,508 left and a December 31, 2026 deadline, the plan is to shift it to the General Fund — effectively covering a month of the sheriff contract — plus $555,265 in flexible interest earnings still uncommitted.
Public Works Efficiency Recommendations Implementation
The city is overhauling how Public Works plans, schedules, and tracks work — cutting equipment, freezing positions, and tracking every labor hour. So far it has saved about $565,000, with more possible in Parks and Utilities. Savings on frozen positions will come back to the Commission for a future decision.
Grants Program Performance
The two-year-old grant specialist program brought in $11.5 million with only ~$700,000 in match, but the specialist position was cut in the contingency budget and the city manager is weighing outside administration versus future applications.
FY 2027 Contingency Plan
If voters pass Amendment 3 in November, Dunedin loses about $7.6 million a year in property tax revenue starting FY 2029 — money that funds police, fire, parks, and the library. The first $3.4 million in cuts starts January 2027 and touches nearly every department.
FY 2027 CRA Operating and Capital Budget
The CRA adopted its $12.5 million FY 2027 budget, funding a Main Street streetscape redo, a master plan update, and downtown improvements. The budget includes a $9.1 million placeholder for borrowing toward the downtown parking garage, and tax increment revenue is roughly a 50/50 split with the county.
Proposed Fire Special Assessment to fund fire operations
The city hired Cypress Revenue Solutions for $74,200 to design a legally defensible fire assessment — a new way to fund fire services that shifts some cost to property owners via a special assessment.
FY 2027 Maximum Millage Rate and November Property-Tax Referendum
The city kept its property tax rate at 4.1345 mills for the 12th straight year and adopted the $138.8 million budget. Commissioners praised the stability but noted contingency planning continues because of Amendment 3.
Potential Dissolution of the CRA
Commissioner Jeff Gow floated having the city consider dissolving the CRA as a contingency, which would send about $1.1–1.2 million in tax increment money back to the general fund. Staff countered that the county's share and downtown's broader economic engine would be lost. No action was taken.
Parking Garage Financing
The city took a step toward building a $10.3 million, roughly 192-space garage at Douglas & Scotland by amending its deal with Pinellas County to use $3.2 million in CRA tax-increment funding. Debt service of about $850,000 a year will eventually fall on the general fund after the CRA sunsets in 2033.
Public Access to Strategic Plan Progress
The city launched a public dashboard tracking everything from fire response times to street sweeping and solar production. Commissioners like it but want resident focus groups to figure out what data actually matters to people — and they flagged a graph error on the pedestrian safety metric.
Hurricane storm cost recovery
Two homeowners (Bella and Ficken) told the board their roof and fence repairs are stalled by ongoing insurance and litigation battles. The board gave both 60-day windows to November 1.
2026 Legislative Session Impacts on Dunedin
Tallahassee passed several bills that will cost or constrain the city: a biosolids law that could require a $5.5 million wastewater plant project, a DEI restriction bill with malfeasance penalties awaiting the governor's signature, a net-zero greenhouse gas policy ban, and building permit timelines. Property tax reform special sessions loom with potential budget cuts of $2-7.5 million.
20-day Fine Cap Limits Code Enforcement
Fines stop accruing after 20 days per order under a City Commission policy, which board members say blunts their leverage. Chairman Stone wants the City Manager to consider declaring problem properties chronic nuisances.
State property tax reform (SJR 2-F)
Property tax reform (HB 1F) passed in a June special session, and commissioners worry a one-size-fits-all formula could bankrupt some communities. The mayor asked staff to build a top-10 list of state home rule intrusions as talking points, and a 2027 constitutional taxation review could reshape everything.
FY 2025 CRA audit results
The CRA's tax increment financing dollars get a full independent checkup every year, and this year's audit found zero problems — no internal control issues, no compliance findings. That means the money collected and spent downtown is following state law and the CRA plan.
FY2025 Audit Results and City Finances
Clean audit across the board: unmodified opinion, no findings, positive net position everywhere, and a 28.7% fund balance — down from 45% because of hurricanes and slow FEMA reimbursements, but still healthy.
Credit card convenience fees
The city eats about $330,000 a year in credit card fees residents incur paying bills and golf greens fees. Commissioners directed staff to start passing fees on at the golf course and study the rest.
Employee health insurance cost increases
Health benefits costs jump nearly 16% in the proposed budget — roughly $1.1 million — and one commissioner called the trend 'completely unsustainable.' Details come at the August 4 workshop.
Aid to organizations and civic partners
The city recommends $222,000 for civic partners and non-profits — but every grant would be cut in half if Amendment 3 passes, and disbursement would wait until December.
FY 2027 Personnel and Health Benefits Costs
The self-funded health plan's claims are running 18% higher per employee than last year, reserves have dropped by about $1 million, and employee-only coverage is free no matter which plan is chosen — so 80% of employees pick the richest plan. The Board of Finance recommends raising employee rates, steering people to cheaper plans, raising out-of-pocket limits, and bidding out the plan administration.
Board of Finance capital project recommendations
The citizen finance board wants the $23.5 million aquatic center delayed to 2029 and the $9.1 million downtown garage held, plus trims to parks projects — warning that multi-year debt could sink the city if Amendment 3 passes.
FY 2027 City Commission budget
The city is trimming operating costs — nearly $1 million cut from the General Fund citywide — while insurance costs rise 15%. Commissioners pushed back on cutting their own training allowance, which will stay at $1,500 each.
Amended CRA by-laws and Executive Director designation
The CRA changed its by-laws to meet quarterly instead of every two months and to make the city's Economic & Housing Development Director the CRA's Executive Director, reporting to the City Manager rather than being hired by the CRA. Members debated whether this shifts power away from the commission but concluded the arrangement matches how the agency has always operated in practice.
Advisory committee efficiencies
The city sunset its Youth Advisory Committee and Public Relations Advisory Action Committee — two of what had been 26 boards — citing declining participation and cost, with youth engagement moving to the Teen Leadership Program.
November Statewide Referendum Impacts
Commissioner Dugard wants staff to analyze how the November property tax referendum could reshape city finances and even building heights if it passes.
Solid Waste Truck Fleet Replacement with State Grant
Two aging garbage trucks get replaced early thanks to an $800,000 FDEP Volkswagen grant. The city's share is just $74,610 from the Solid Waste Fund.
FY 2026 Second Budget Amendment
The city moved $31.4 million of unfinished projects and purchase orders into this year's budget — about $15 million less carry-forward than last year. Four funds (solid waste, stormwater, golf, health insurance) sit below reserve targets, and the General Fund is healthier than projected at 32%.
Summer quorum concerns for the board
With only five members present, Vice-Chair Ballard warned that summer absences could leave the board unable to reach the four-vote quorum it needs.