[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6164489,"mediaKeyId","5428425-5a4afb81bbabc186235ee77b7057cdac","parentId",5428425,"title","Marina repairs, bulkhead and storm costs put pressure on cash; staff plans targeted line‑of‑credit and grant draws","audioSeconds",325,"startMs",4045000,"endMs",4370000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5428425-5a4afb81bbabc186235ee77b7057cdac&start=4045&end=4370","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5428425-5a4afb81bbabc186235ee77b7057cdac/thumbnail_4045000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6164489/Dunedin/Pinellas-County/Florida/Marina-repairs-bulkhead-and-storm-costs-put-pressure-on-cash-staff-plans-targeted-lineofcredit-and-grant-draws","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164489-c48c4af89dd87afe684393eb4edbc776/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188857&Signature=JNf8sO9cgJ90Bo1KRi12YUbKknyQ0WXDcPPIh3gVyjAx9tDBdN9Z2qOjbkR47ndpbENxYTSRl82oRig58lKwCE7P4SzN2XkoDcWpCM2mkYU83jglORW2ixZGDU0YnCZPgqvDRgjXTfdwfbu~7Y8yt2Ov5Oj20~8pFfGPB2RxSRSudTPib5DcIklfS09rgThYtbBjWlgNPAGPE-z1ya1esa5ZLDo8E-h3JnBGK9IbJ2YNmZM4vAVZb6dUy0jIZk3uQYXJGbltyr6GrUWKEDFD5WaJAcFjSIlHWfrZakaBge4Bj8S21zNSvUtdqN9M22Lj9qgjOItAF2Ac54TugwXyqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Dunedin, FL","date","2025-07-19T03:51:55.853Z","article","City staff used the budget workshop to summarize storm damage, FEMA/state reimbursement estimates and near‑term cash‑flow needs for the marina and related public infrastructure projects.

Nut graf: Staff estimated total storm‑related costs across funds and showed how FEMA (expected 75 percent) and state matching (12.5 percent) reimbursements affect timing and cash needs. Because reimbursements are received on a project‑by‑project basis after FEMA obligation, staff proposed a temporary line of credit as a cash bridge and asked the commission to authorize short‑term borrowing authority if needed.

What staff described
- Total damage estimate and reimbursements: staff presented a roll‑up of storm costs and an estimate of FEMA and state share by fund. For the general fund staff showed a plan to receive an expedited debris payment already received and anticipated further reimbursements in the months ahead. The Marina Fund and capital projects were identified as areas with sizeable obligations.
- Marina projects: the eastern bulkhead replacement, dock A/B design and other marina repairs were listed among upcoming capital needs. Staff said the eastern bulkhead bid came in lower than initial estimates and would reduce the city match; staff will update project numbers to reflect actual bids.
- Bridge and infrastructure inspections: staff confirmed structural inspections (for example, Weaver Park pier and Weybridge Woods bridge) are underway; some projects remain contingent on inspection results and grant eligibility.
- Financing and cash flow: staff proposed a limited line of credit to bridge project cash needs until FEMA/state reimbursements are obligated and paid. Estimates shown at the workshop included a planning figure for a general‑fund line of credit (~$4.3M) and a larger estimated need in quarantine for the Marina/Arena funds depending on final project timing.

Questions and follow‑up
- Commissioners asked which reimbursements have already been paid; staff said an expedited FEMA debris payment had been received and other payouts are expected on a project‑by‑project basis and could take months to obligate and arrive.
- Staff said they will bring final bid results (for the bulkhead and other near‑term capital) back to the commission and will update FEMA/state reimbursement timing and line‑of‑credit needs as obligations firm up.

Ending: staff asked the commission for authority to pursue short‑term financing if needed to maintain cash flow while FEMA/state reimbursements are processed, and to approve technical budget amendments after bids and grant obligations are final.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Commission Budget Workshop 7.18.25","oneSentenceSummary","City staff used the budget workshop to summarize storm damage, FEMA/state reimbursement estimates and near‑term cash‑flow needs for the marina and related public infrastructure projects.","taxTitle","Dunedin, Pinellas County, Florida","taxId",50865,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6164499,"Finance director projects $5.8M annual shortfall in multi‑year budget, commission flags cuts and fees",12654,553000,13207000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5428425-5a4afb81bbabc186235ee77b7057cdac&start=553&end=13207","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5428425-5a4afb81bbabc186235ee77b7057cdac/thumbnail_553000.jpg","/articles/6164499/Dunedin/Pinellas-County/Florida/Finance-director-projects-58M-annual-shortfall-in-multiyear-budget-commission-flags-cuts-and-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164499-39fa7a2e2397e4dc84f543c3795aa6ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188857&Signature=STsndRG4inhhYXrnHloWzWXvfUYrEP8rs9LAR7tVcv7ngsWURtnB7sHmZF41Maq7Ar7NozT9hf3nDI4~BDpKi9yVpMc-toDA7-URd1wt6HUiFLVvNg4lBo6wa8iS5RUqCBzlaHQDvjU3Hult114k5iQFilpO3-0mMuvcoEKBTJUmxZr4z18sbVEBNv1l0uFTBQIe1PYNW5Q3Sr7tQJhBMfw6047uJflueQh98ZqMnk8l7iMNZY-zyg-kUz53gFKkj8826tQbExuls7zwU6ceg3t4318PYKnPQIFKGJQHA338HH5HFQd08pGPkIPHsQFeIptvZkqLF~L8kod3ANFQmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Commission members and staff used a budget workshop to review a draft fiscal 2026 budget that staff said is balanced for next year but shows a growing structural shortfall in later years. Finance Director Les Tyler told the commission the city’s five‑year forecast now shows a recurring annual shortfall averaging about $5.8 million, up from an earlier five‑year estimate of about $2.1 million.

Tyler said the city should still adopt a balanced fiscal 2026 budget but must prepare a plan that blends expense reductions and revenue actions to avoid deeper deficits in 2027–2031. The workshop included discussion of storm‑damage reimbursements, capital requests and personnel costs.

Why it matters: the new projection reflects several converging pressures — slower assessed‑value growth and other revenue flattening; higher operating costs (insurance, contracted services and internal service fund charges); and added capital needs including storm recovery, wastewater upgrades and the Highlander Aquatic Complex. With a policy target reserve of 15 percent, staff said the general fund reserve is projected at 15.7 percent in 2026 but would decline sharply in later years under current assumptions.

Key figures and drivers
- Fiscal 2026: proposed budget shown as balanced; projected available general fund reserve about 15.7 percent (policy = 15 percent).
- Five‑year picture: staff reported an average annual structural shortfall of about $5.8 million in the forecast window, up roughly $3.7 million from the prior five‑year projection. Staff attributed the change to lower revenue projections (about $3.8 million less over the five years) plus higher operating and capital spending (about $14 million more over the five years).
- Storms and reimbursements: staff summarized storm expenditures and expected FEMA and state reimbursements. A line of credit of approximately $4.3 million was shown as a planning figure to bridge cash timing; FEMA and state payouts remain estimates and will be refined as projects are obligated.
- Major capital: the draft includes an $8.3 million general‑fund contribution to the Highlander Aquatic Complex; staff modeled short‑term debt for construction with the intention to shift part of the debt service to a future Penny for Pinellas program if approved by voters.

What staff and commissioners discussed
- Revenue assumptions: Tyler said assessed values used in the tentative budget reflect conservative AV growth and that some revenue lines (gas tax, certain shared taxes) have flattened compared with the high growth years after COVID.
- Operating pressures: commissioners flagged rising insurance and labor costs as important ongoing drivers and asked staff to bring specific options for containment, including program reductions, schedule/level‑of‑service changes and efficiencies from audits already underway.
- Capital prioritization: commissioners directed staff to treat non‑critical capital as deferrable and to prioritize projects that address legal, safety or essential utility needs. Several members emphasized exploring Penny for Pinellas and other grant opportunities before committing general‑fund resources.

Next steps and decisions requested of the commission
- Staff will continue to refine the fiscal 2026 tentative budget and return with more detailed options for reducing the multi‑year shortfall: a menu of expenditure reductions, proposed user‑fee adjustments, and a plan for timing and structure of any property tax (millage) changes.
- Staff will provide a compact “cheat sheet” showing current debt, purpose and repayment sources to clarify how existing obligations — including enterprise fund passthroughs such as the Blue Jays/ballpark arrangement — affect the general fund.
- The commission asked that staff present a multi‑departmental plan that tests combinations of (a) targeted fee increases, (b) program reductions or service level changes, and (c) capital deferrals, with estimated fiscal impact for each.

Sources and participants
Finance Director Les Tyler led the presentation with Budget Manager Jean Horschwater and City Manager (Jennifer). Staff and commissioners discussed revenue and expense drivers for the general fund and enterprise funds. The workshop also included department presentations and a summary of storm costs and projected FEMA/state reimbursements.

End note: staff emphasized the fiscal 2026 budget before the commission is a one‑year legal adoption and that the five‑year projection is a planning tool meant to prompt policy choices about the city’s long‑term mix of services, fees and capital commitments.","City Commission members and staff used a budget workshop to review a draft fiscal 2026 budget that staff said is balanced for next year but shows a growing structural shortfall in later years.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6164494,"Fire department asks for new gear, boats and upgrades after storms; city to weigh funding",575,1160000,1735000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5428425-5a4afb81bbabc186235ee77b7057cdac&start=1160&end=1735","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5428425-5a4afb81bbabc186235ee77b7057cdac/thumbnail_1160000.jpg","/articles/6164494/Dunedin/Pinellas-County/Florida/Fire-department-asks-for-new-gear-boats-and-upgrades-after-storms-city-to-weigh-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164494-5a0fc7dedcea89963e33de09cba837fa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188857&Signature=ZutzUihxftQT3eqmMma-jvnB0QojKd1wxCdWjce~OQ8~2usd465V4FALdhFKEt2sZTMbBcvlP97ECLXXtQyWUUB5b7sZq13x6hYiZ4u6LlZwfroIg~IycHGC~jeYk3J0emA2WH2951xsz4aHQMXjSSoWaIyJJFildMcSJRMTUSYT8nK8KJCH5CenQikedxLnsnqC7RJ3uiFMw5JYnkPPw74EQpKyaKZrp8cbYg5IWjxpn5L5oSBR8f0iT5DP6ZUmYAq2kXFa1lAd-sMgXpedTr~kXCDwbuRYXphxQpJOd0xgpgCbV0LjdiuERJBv~md0raxAzSyEu-am78LZ3P1fmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy fire leadership outlined multiple equipment and readiness requests as part of the fiscal 2026 budget workshop, tying several asks to lessons learned during recent storm response and to new technical standards.

Nut graf: The fire department presented a consolidated list of items they ask the commission to fund or plan for: personal protective equipment handling and turnaround (bunker‑gear dryers), updated computers to meet the county’s next‑generation CAD/records requirements, replacement dry suits for water rescues, an in‑house firefighter physical‑agility training system, overhaul of reserve engines to reduce downtime, one rigid‑hulled inflatable boat (RIB) for flood response and a later‑year request for a Sherp amphibious all‑terrain vehicle. Staff said some items can be offset by grants; others are capital requests to be placed in future years.

Details presented
- Bunker‑gear drying equipment: department said new forced‑air drying racks would reduce mildew, speed return‑to‑service after washings required by current EMS/fire safety guidance, and limit gear damage from improper drying. Department proposed placing two units across stations to speed equipment turnaround.
- Computer replacements (dispatch/CAD): the county’s Prime/CAD upgrade imposes minimum hardware requirements. Fire staff said some station and EOC computers do not meet the minimum screen and processor specs needed to operate the new Hexagon CAD system; the department requested funds to replace administrative and EOC workstations to maintain interoperability with the county system.
- Water rescue PPE and fleet: department requested replacement dry suits and other PPE after high use during the previous storm season; also asked for a RIB (rigid‑hulled inflatable) to improve rescue reach vs the existing aluminum Jon boats. The department reported 109 emergency calls related to flooding and 65 rescues during the last event.
- Training and readiness: requested a firefighter agility training rig (fire sled) to enable daily conditioning, reduce injuries and allow in‑house pre‑hire agility testing; department noted that doing PAT testing in‑house saves candidate fees and scheduling delays with third‑party testers.
- Reserve engine overhauls: with lead times for parts increasing, primary apparatus had significant downtime (example cited: 626 hours out of service in one recent month); department seeks to overhaul engines before they go into reserve to extend useful life and reduce forced outages.
- Later‑year purchase (FY2028): an amphibious Sherp vehicle (all‑terrain, floatable) was discussed as a future purchase to reach areas inaccessible to standard high‑water vehicles or boats in certain flood geometries. Staff noted the vehicle is on a state purchasing contract used elsewhere in Florida; they flagged parts/access concerns but said the maker uses off‑the‑shelf components.

Funding notes and questions raised
- Some items were positioned as grant‑eligible (for example, certain FEMA/HMG or other resilience grants) or as projects that could be phased into CIP schedules.
- Commissioners asked whether county or state funds could support CAD computer replacements; staff said county funding was not available and counties typically require the agency to supply compatible hardware.
- Commissioners pressed on cost/benefit for the large Sherp vehicle; staff offered to arrange a demonstration with peer departments and to return further cost/maintenance analysis.

Attribution: requests and technical descriptions were given by the fire department deputy chief and supporting staff during the budget workshop; the presentation and questions were recorded in the workshop transcript.

What’s next: the department’s list will be included in the city manager’s budget package for prioritized consideration; commissioners instructed staff to pursue grant opportunities where feasible and to return with more detailed cost and readiness analyses for higher‑cost items.","Fire leadership presented a package of equipment and operational requests at the budget workshop including bunker‑gear dryers, computers to meet county CAD specifications, replacement dry suits and water‑rescue boats, overhaul of reserve engines, firefighter agility training equipment and a future purchase request for an amphibious Sherp vehicle.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Marina repairs, bulkhead and storm costs put pressure on cash; staff plans targeted line‑of‑credit and grant draws

Finance director projects $5.8M annual shortfall in multi‑year budget, commission flags cuts and fees

Fire department asks for new gear, boats and upgrades after storms; city to weigh funding