Martha Santiago

Property Maintenance Ordinance

Cleanup costs borne by the county program, waste haulers, and volunteers.

Sheriff's Flock automated license plate readers

Speakers asked the board to cut Flock-related funding within the Sheriff's budget; the amount was not quantified publicly.

Vision Zero countywide safety plan

No county cost identified yet; possible future funding for safety education.

Animal Control and animal welfare funding

Animal services spends about $5 million annually; advocates want prevention programs funded.

Firefighter work-week transition

Firefighter union contract 2026-2029

Compensation terms not stated in the agenda.

Opioid settlement opt-in

Settlement proceeds amount not stated.

Joint Sheriff's Office/County warehouse and administration building

$29,978,532 one-time expense, funded from the general capital improvement fund.

Medical Examiner's Office expansion

$13,342,830 one-time, offset by $500,000 from Hardee County, $1.5 million from Highlands County, and a $3 million state grant.

After-the-fact construction and permitting integrity

Approval would trigger full impact fees as if it were another dwelling unit in the subdivision.

Smith Lane Joint-Use Fire Rescue Station

$1,739,449.70 one-time, from the capital improvement fund; more spending to follow.

Drought and burn ban reinstated

Caloosa Lake Fire Rescue Station 21

$6,390,171.95 construction cost plus $1,693,204 transfer from EMS millage reserves.

Public safety radio system upgrade

$5,135,075.74 over six years, starting at about $793,607 in year one and rising roughly 3% annually.

Speeding on Avenue A in Wahneta

Speed humps cost roughly $5,000 each; any Avenue A measures would add to that.

Blues Law advocacy for mandatory blood draws

Sheriff's deputy overtime practices

Estimated $600,000 to pay flexed deputy overtime at $50/hour, per the commenter.

Moffitt Cancer Center Coming to Polk County

Emergency response times in southwest Polk