It's Time for Fiscal Reality
Breaking Largo's Spending-Tax Spiral
The Spending-Tax Spiral is Hurting Largo Families
My name is Matt, and as a resident and Chair of the Largo Planning Board, I know our city is caught in a dangerous cycle: runaway spending leads to higher taxes and fees, which only fuels more spending. While your family has been dealing with a cost of living crisis, the city's budget has exploded. The numbers below prove that the city's spending is growing far faster than your paycheck, even as our population stays flat.
Your Annual Cost Increase Since 2019
$722
(Property Tax + Utilities)
Projected 2026 Cost Increase Since 2019
$835
A 15.24% increase over 2025
Your Income Growth Since 2019
+36.9%
(Median Household)
Inflation (CPI) Since 2019
+32.0%
(Tampa Bay Area)
City Hall's spending has forced a $722 increase in your annual household costs, far exceeding the growth in your paycheck and the rate of inflation. This is unsustainable and must be stopped.
The Spiral Continues: Adopted & Proposed FY2026 Increases
The city has now adopted new utility rate hikes and is proposing another property tax increase for 2026. If the tax increase is adopted, these changes will push the total burden on residents even higher, continuing the unsustainable trend of the last several years.
Property Taxes (Proposed)
+5.64%
New Cumulative Increase: 61.1%
An extra $320 per year
Wastewater (Adopted)
+5%
New Cumulative Increase: 80.0%
An extra $291 per year
Stormwater (Adopted)
+15%
New Cumulative Increase: 99.0%
An extra $106 per year
Solid Waste (Adopted)
+10%
New Cumulative Increase: 45.2%
An extra $115 per year
The Root of the Problem: Out-of-Control Spending
The reason your bills keep going up is simple: the city's budget is growing much faster than its revenues. The chart below shows that expenditures are consistently outpacing income, creating a structural deficit. Relying on one-time savings to plug this hole is not a plan; it's a path to fiscal crisis.
A Bloated Bureaucracy
A major driver of the spending spiral is the growth in city personnel. Since 2019, personnel spending in the **General Fund alone** has ballooned by over 24%. This fund covers core services like police, fire, and parks. We must get this growth under control before asking taxpayers for more.
How Does Largo's Government Growth Compare?
A look at the growth of city staff and personnel spending from FY 2019 to FY 2025.
City Staffing (FTE) Growth Since 2019
What This Means for Taxpayers: FY2019-FY2025
The 48.86% increase in personnel spending for Largo in this comparison reflects the growth across **all city funds**, including large capital projects in our utility departments. Both the core service spending and the total spending are growing at unsustainable rates.
A Look Ahead: FY2026 Proposed Budgets
The trend of government growth continues into the proposed FY2026 budgets for several local cities. While Largo's population remains flat, the city plans to increase staff and spending, a pattern also seen in St. Petersburg and Clearwater.
*Note: FY2026 budget information for Pinellas Park and Dunedin has not yet been released.
City of Largo (Proposed)
Proposing to add 3.46 FTEs, a 0.35% increase.
Personnel Spending Growth:
+5.8% (General Fund)
Population Change:
-0.2% (projected)
City of Clearwater (Proposed)
Proposing to cut 12.3 FTEs, a -0.65% decrease.
Personnel Spending Growth:
-2.0% (General Fund)
Population Change:
-0.4% (projected)
City of St. Petersburg (Proposed)
Proposing to add 9 FTEs to Fire Rescue.
Personnel Spending Growth:
+6.4% (General Fund)
Population Change:
+3.4% (projected)
My Plan: Fiscal Reality and Real Relief
We can't afford more of the same. We need a specific, actionable plan to break the spending-tax spiral. My plan is based on fiscal reality and is designed to provide immediate relief while ensuring Largo's long-term financial stability.
1. Deliver Real Property Tax Relief
After years of effective tax hikes, it's time for relief. I will fight to adopt a partial rollback millage rate of 5.5000 mills. This is a responsible reduction that provides direct savings to homeowners and is the first step in ending the city's addiction to tax revenue.
2. Freeze Wasteful Spending
To close the budget gap responsibly, I will work to cut wasteful spending and will call for a freeze on all non-negotiated pay rates. We must find efficiencies and tighten our belts before asking taxpayers for another dime.
3. Enforce Long-Term Fiscal Discipline
A one-time fix isn't enough. I am committed to finding at least $3 million in annual savings to permanently fix the structural deficit. This long-term discipline is essential. My plan keeps our fund balance safely above the required minimum, ensuring we are prepared for the future without constantly reaching into your pocket.