Blog: Protecting services while planning for the future

Published on March 09, 2026

The first budget discussion with the City Commission for Fiscal Year 2027 is scheduled for 10 a.m. March 13 at City Hall. North Port’s budget discussions always return to a simple directive: we will deliver essential services to our residents and do so responsibly. This year, that means tightening our belts—not because our community has stopped growing, but because the cost of providing city services has been rising faster than the revenues that fund them.

From fiscal year 2013 to 2022, North Port’s taxable assessed value grew from $2.27 billion to $5.75 billion, about a 154% increase. Property tax revenue rose from $8.1 million to $21 million, a 160% jump. Those numbers reflect real progress, but they don’t tell the full story of what it costs to operate a modern, growing city.

Over that same period, total city expenses nearly doubled, from $60.7 million to $120 million. Public safety costs alone climbed from $27.6 million to $53.8 million. Even before recent inflationary pressures, the cost of maintaining essential services—from police and fire to parks and infrastructure—has been steadily increasing.

The General Fund, which supports most day-to-day operations, is largely driven by people. Salaries and benefits make up about 76% of the budget. Looking ahead, we face several million dollars in added costs from negotiated pay increases for union employees, health insurance and inflation. To stay on solid ground, we are identifying about five percent in potential reductions from the adopted FY26 budget while maintaining staffing levels and adding no new positions. That’s what fiscal discipline looks like in practice: fewer expansions, tighter cost control and a focus on essentials. It also means the level of service and quality of life our residents have come to expect may be impacted, but we will do so in a thoughtful and responsible way.

At the same time, we must plan for the unexpected. The FY26 fund balance set aside an emergency and disaster reserve equal to 20% of the General Fund, with the remaining portions committed to projects or contracts, so not all of it is available for daily operations.

We’re also watching closely as the State Legislature considers a variety of proposed constitutional amendments that could reduce or eliminate non-school property taxes on homesteaded properties. If voters approve such a proposal in November 2026, the change would take effect in 2027 and could lead to major reductions in local property tax revenues across Florida.

North Port does not have a significant commercial tax base, with approximately 87% of properties being residential. For North Port, where about 45% of property taxes come from homesteaded properties, that’s a serious challenge. The impact on our property tax

revenues would be a reduction of close to $18 million. Public safety alone costs roughly $55 million, while total property tax revenue is currently about $39 million.

Residents deserve transparency and fiscal responsibility. Tightening our belts now helps keep North Port resilient, protect the services that make our city strong and prepare for whatever changes may come from Tallahassee.

Jerome Fletcher is the North Port City Manager. He can be reached at jfletcher@NorthPortFL.gov.