Largo City officials are making strides toward addressing staffing challenges and budgetary concerns as they prepare for the upcoming fiscal year. During the Joint Largo City Commission and Finance Advisory Board meeting on July 25, 2025, discussions centered on the city's personnel budget, which revealed a significant $1 million shortfall from last year's estimates.

City representatives noted that the budgeted personnel costs for the current year came in lower than expected, primarily due to vacancies and the hiring of trainees instead of fully qualified staff. The city had budgeted $8.2 million for personnel last year but is now estimating costs at $7.3 million. Looking ahead, the budget for the next fiscal year is set to increase to $8.6 million, reflecting anticipated merit increases and benefits.

Officials expressed optimism about filling vacancies, particularly in environmental services, where they are aiming for full staffing. Recent restructuring efforts have reportedly improved the applicant pool, with a full field of candidates now available for collection positions. However, the loss of three skilled operators in the plant division poses an ongoing challenge.

The city is also preparing for potential increases in personnel costs due to ongoing negotiations with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), which could further impact the budget for environmental services. The city plans to incorporate a 5% under-budget strategy into its long-range financial plan to help manage these fluctuations.

As Largo City navigates these staffing and budgetary complexities, officials remain focused on ensuring that essential services are adequately staffed and funded, aiming for a more stable and efficient operational framework in the coming year.