Clearwater city leaders are bracing for a leaner government if Florida voters decide in November to give themselves a break on property taxes, telling council members this week that a proposed statewide amendment could blow a $20 million hole in the general fund over the next two budget years.
City staff laid out the numbers for the Clearwater City Council at a special budget work session Tuesday, warning that if the amendment passes, the city would need to shed nearly 140 full-time positions to balance its books — about 75 in fiscal year 2028 and another 64 in 2029. The cuts would be spread across departments funded by the general fund, which staff says is anchored by property tax revenue and covers everything from police and fire protection to public works and administration.
Beyond payroll, the memo to council members outlines other belt-tightening measures: a smaller technology budget for police investigative tools and reduced parks and recreation services.
Council member Lina Teixeira called the prospect difficult, saying every budget decision “impacts humans.” Council member Ryan Cotton struck a more measured tone, telling colleagues the city doesn’t yet know what November will bring and should “prepare for the worst and then hope for the best” rather than assume the sky is falling.
Rather than simply absorbing the hit, city staff says they’re already looking at ways to diversify revenue without relying solely on property owners — including renegotiating the city’s ticket revenue-sharing agreement with BayCare Sound and raising prices at the Pier 60 Bait House.
Proposed Amendment 3 reflects a broader statewide push to ease Florida’s property tax burden on homeowners, an idea that has gained traction as home values, insurance costs and city budgets have all climbed in recent years. Clearwater’s projected shortfall offers an early look at how municipalities across the state may need to adapt to smaller government footprints if voters approve it in November — a scenario that supporters of the amendment argue is overdue after years of rising local spending.
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