Goad notified commissioners of his intent to retire effective Sept. 30, 2026, or when a successor is hired. Goad has worked for the City of Tallahassee for 26 years, including serving as deputy city manager before being appointed interim city manager on Nov. 8, 2017. He was formally appointed city manager in September 2018 and has led the city for nearly nine years.

The city manager is one of four appointed officials established by the city charter and serves as the administrative head of city government. The position oversees daily operations, public safety services, utilities, budgeting, personnel decisions and implementation of commission policies.

Under Goad’s leadership, the city has managed a fiscal year 2026 operating and capital budget of approximately $1.2 billion and assets totaling nearly $6 billion, including pension funds. The city manager also supervises roughly 2,923 employees and oversees six municipal utilities, the region’s largest law enforcement agency, Tallahassee Fire Department operations, more than 100 city parks and the Tallahassee International Airport.

To guide the transition, city staff reviewed proposals from two executive recruitment firms already under contract with the city — Ad-Vance and S. Renée Narloch & Associates. Staff recommended hiring S. Renée Narloch & Associates based on experience, qualifications and cost.

The proposed recruitment process is expected to take about 16 weeks and cost approximately $30,000, including advertising, candidate screening, background checks and finalist interviews. The search will include national advertising through professional organizations and direct outreach to experienced public sector administrators.

Following the recruitment process, finalists will participate in public interviews with the City Commission before a final selection is made.

The issue will be addressed at the May 12 Leon County Commission meeting.

The assessment, unchanged since 1996, was originally set to cover the cost of residential waste disposal and the operation of rural waste collection centers. Over time, however, those costs have outpaced revenues, forcing the County to supplement the program with general funds for more than 20 years. Officials say that approach is no longer sustainable amid inflation and uncertainty surrounding major revenue sources, including potential property tax reforms.

County staff argue the current funding model conflicts with fiscal policies requiring enterprise operations—such as solid waste services—to be self-supporting. To address the imbalance, a Solid Waste Assessment Rate Study completed in fiscal year 2025 recommended raising the annual fee to $134 to fully cover operational costs.

Rather than implementing a sharp increase, commissioners are considering a phased approach. Under the recommended plan, the assessment would rise to $80 in fiscal year 2027—about $3.33 per month—followed by incremental increases every other year until reaching $134 by 2031.

If approved, the change would reduce the County’s projected $3.8 million general revenue subsidy for solid waste operations to about $2.2 million in 2027, a 42% decrease. The subsidy would gradually decline and be eliminated entirely by 2031 as the higher assessment takes effect.

The proposed solid waste budget for 2027 totals roughly $24 million. Most funding would come from tipping fees paid by the City of Tallahassee and private haulers, estimated at $15 million, along with $3.6 million from recycling revenues, interest earnings, and other sources. The residential assessment currently contributes about $1.6 million.

The issue comes as part of the County’s broader multiyear fiscal planning efforts and a pending Revenue Diversification Study, which has found Leon County collects less in service charges than many Florida counties. Officials say aligning fees with actual costs will be key to maintaining long-term financial stability.

Commissioners are expected to revisit the proposal during upcoming budget discussions in June.

The YTD Numbers

The incident data -tabulated by TR – show that YTD property crime incidents were up 12.0% and YTD violent crime incidents are up 33.7% through April when compared to one year ago.

Property crimes encompass burglaries, thefts, and incidents of vandalism. Violent incidents include aggravated assaults, armed robberies, and physical altercations.

A look at specific crimes reveals the increase in property crime was driven by increases in residential (25.4%) and commercial burglaries (89.6%). The Auto Burglary & Theft category – which accounts for approximately 55% of all property crimes – is down 7.2%.

The violent crime data shows that robbery incidents were up 32.2% while assault & battery incidents were up 24.5%.

12-Month Trends

The chart below shows the 12-month trends of property and violent crime incidents from January 2023 through April 2026.

Property crime incidents began to decline in December 2024 and reached a 3-year low in October 2025. For a brief period, the change in property crime has remained flat. However, over the last three months these crimes have started to increase.

Violent crime incidents peaked in October 2023 and reached a 3-year low in June 2025. Since then, violent crime incidents have been trending up.

City staff outlined the potential impact of Senate Bill 1134, titled “Official Actions of Local Governments,” in a agenda item prepared for the May 13th city commission meeting. The law, signed April 22, 2026, takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.

The measure broadly prohibits cities and counties from funding, promoting or taking official action related to diversity, equity and inclusion, commonly referred to as DEI. The statute defines DEI efforts as programs or activities tied to race, color, sex, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation, including initiatives intended to influence hiring composition, provide preferential treatment or conduct targeted training and programming.

City staff warned that the law could affect multiple areas of municipal operations. Among the areas identified for further review are human resources policies and employee training programs, city-sponsored events and celebrations, minority and women-owned business enterprise initiatives, community grant programs and ordinances containing DEI-specific language.

The proposed staff recommendation asks commissioners to direct a comprehensive review of all city ordinances, policies, programs, sponsorships, grants and contracts that could be impacted by the legislation.

The law also prohibits local governments from funding or staffing DEI offices or employing DEI officers. In addition, municipal contracts and grants will now require recipients to certify they will not use city funds for DEI-related instruction or materials for employees or agents.

Staff noted that the legislation creates a resident enforcement mechanism allowing citizens to sue municipalities or officials for alleged violations. Potential remedies include injunctions, damages and legal costs. The law further states that local officials who knowingly violate the statute may be deemed guilty of misfeasance or malfeasance in office, which under Florida law could expose them to suspension by the governor.

City officials said several exceptions remain in place, including actions necessary to comply with federal and state anti-discrimination laws and recognition of official holidays and commemorative observances.

During legislative debate, bill sponsor Clay Yarborough said public events open to all residents generally would not violate the law, while programs limited to specific groups could face scrutiny.

City staff said additional legal guidance from the Florida League of Cities is expected later this summer as municipalities across the state prepare for implementation.

In his new position, Browning will focus on fostering strategic partnerships, supporting member engagement and advancing initiatives that contribute to a more vibrant and competitive business environment in Florida’s capital city.

“Philip’s history of leadership within the Chamber and his strong background in growing businesses make him a natural fit for this role,” said Michael Dalby, President and CEO of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce. “He brings both the relationships and the results-driven mindset needed to support our members and move our mission forward.”

Originally from Atlanta, Browning moved to Tallahassee in 2005 to play football at Florida State University under legendary Coach Bobby Bowden. He and his wife, Jessica, have made Tallahassee their permanent home, where they raise their three sons.

The press release noted that “Browning has been deeply engaged in the local business and civic community. He previously served as a member of Access Tallahassee, including roles on the Access Council and as Council Chair. During his tenure, he helped lead impactful community initiatives such as the installation of Little Free Libraries throughout the area.”

Browning served five years on the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, where he was Chair of both the Economic Competitiveness Committee and the Talent and Workforce Committee. Browning was also a part of Leadership Tallahassee Class 38. 

Most recently, Browning served as vice president of sales at Synchros, where he expanded the company from a regional payroll provider into a national payroll and HR solutions firm by cultivating new client relationships and driving strategic growth.

“I’m honored to step into this role with the Chamber,” said Browning. “Tallahassee has given so much to my family and me, and I’m excited to contribute to its continued growth by supporting our business community and helping create new opportunities for success.”

The issue of whether Florida should legalize recreational cannabis went away as a significant campaign issue earlier this year after Smart & Safe Florida, the organization behind an initiative to put it back before voters this November, fell short of the nearly 880,000 verified petition signatures required to qualify for the statewide ballot.

That failure came a year-and-a-half after nearly 56% of Floridians voted to legalize adult use of recreational marijuana on the November 2024 ballot, a clear majority but short of the 60% required for passage.

While it’s not something voters will  decide this year, Floridians might want to know where their candidates for statewide office stand.

Speaking during a “Business Women for Byron” campaign event Tuesday at the Getaway, a waterfront restaurant and Tiki bar in St. Petersburg, the first question asked by an audience member to GOP gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds was his position on the topic.

“I do not support recreational marijuana,” Donalds replied. “I think the current regulatory system around medicinal use is fine.”

Donalds has previously acknowledged that he was arrested for possessing “a dime bag of marijuana” as a teenager, and admitted to CBS Miami recently that he actually had sold small amounts of cannabis as a youth.

He now says that he doesn’t support expanding the legal use of weed beyond the 924,820 Floridians listed as qualified medical marijuana patients, according to the state Office of Medical Marijuana Use.

Acceptance on medical, but never for recreational

The other Republicans running for governor share Donalds’ sentiments.

“I oppose recreational marijuana in Florida,” investment firm CEO James Fishback told the Phoenix in a text message. “I have seen what it has done to cities that have already tried it, from New York to Chicago to Washington D.C. The foul stench of pot in public parks and outside our schools can never come to Florida.”

However, Fishback says he will always protect the right of those “with a legitimate medical purpose, including our U.S. military veterans.”

“No one should be denied herbal medicine and pushed toward addictive big pharma prescriptions for pain,” he said. “As Governor, I will protect medical marijuana. But I won’t tolerate hoodlums smoking pot in a public park, just as we already don’t tolerate them drinking in one.”

“I’ve been clear from day one. I am completely against legalizing marijuana,” Lt. Gov Jay Collins said in a video posted on social media on April 26. “We’ve seen the impact in other states, and that’s not where Florida is headed.  I stand with Governor DeSantis on this. No compromises, and no money from the marijuana industry. That can’t be said for all of my opponents.”

“I’m against full blown recreational marijuana,” former House Speaker Paul Renner said Wednesday during a roundtable discussion of high energy prices in Hillsborough County.

“We have medical. It was put in the Constitution [in 2016]. If people want to get it, they can get it. And we opened that up to the extent where it needs to be, but I’m opposed to recreational. Period. If it came back on the ballot, I would campaign against it like Gov. DeSantis did.”

DeSantis announced in June 2024 that he would use a political action committee to fight the constitutional amendment on recreational marijuana, saying he could not believe that the Florida Supreme Court allowed the language of the measure to qualify for that November’s ballot.

He later used tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to campaign against both that proposal and another measure that would have enshrined abortion rights in Florida, according to a report by the Tampa Bay Times.

Where are the Democrats?

The Phoenix reached out to the two major Democrats running for governor this year: former GOP U.S. Rep. David Jolly and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.

“I think the governor’s role is to represent the majority of the state, and the majority of the state asked for it, and I think that we should do it,” Jolly told the Phoenix in a phone call Tuesday.

The Pinellas County Democrat says he actually voted against Amendment 3 in 2024, the one calling for legalizing adult use of recreational marijuana.

But since he announced his candidacy last year, Jolly has emphasized that he would work to implement all recent constitutional amendments that have been passed by a majority of Floridians but failed to get the high 60% margin required for passage.

“Recreational marijuana got more than 50% of the vote in the constitutional amendment process and I pledged to support the enactment and introduce legislatively any amendment that got more than 50% of the vote. That includes open primaries, recreational marijuana, and Amendment 4 on reproductive freedom,” he said.

The only major gubernatorial candidate whose stance the Phoenix was unable to clarify was Demings. While serving as the sheriff of Orange County in the 2010s, Demings opposed the constitutional amendments that would have legalized medical marijuana in both 2014 and 2016.

The Phoenix reached out by phone and by email to the Demings campaign for two days this week but did not receive a response. Calls to the phone number listed on the most recent press release from the Demings campaign were answered by a recording saying that the person with the number had not set up a voice mail system.

President Trump’s endorsed Amendment 3

One prominent Florida Republican who supported Amendment 3 in 2024 was President Donald Trump.

“As I have previously stated, I believe it is time to end needless arrests and incarcerations of adults for small amounts of marijuana for personal use. We must also implement smart regulations, while providing access for adults, to safe, tested product,” Trump posted on Truth Social in September 2024. “As a Floridian, I will be voting YES on Amendment 3 this November.”

In that post, the president promised that if elected back to the White House he would work towards changing marijuana from a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act to a Schedule III drug — which he did in December in an executive order.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced last month that it would immediately move FDA-approved marijuana products, along with items regulated by a state medical marijuana license, to Schedule III. That puts medical cannabis into the group of regulated drugs with recognized medical uses, such as Tylenol, rather than Schedule I drugs, like heroin and LSD, which are considered to have no medical use and have a high potential for abuse.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is a national independent rating system focused on 22 evidence-based measures of hospital safety, including infection prevention, error reduction, medication safety, patient experience and staffing. TMH’s grade reflects a successful standard the organization has maintained through a strategic focus on quality, safety and patient satisfaction.

“Earning a ‘B’ grade for the third consecutive rating period affirms that our approach to safety and quality is working,” said Ryan Smith, Chief Operating Officer and President of Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. “This recognition aligns with what we are seeing across our organization – stronger processes, greater accountability and a continued focus on doing what’s right for our patients every single day. I couldn’t be more proud of our colleagues and the progress we’re making together.”

“We’ve built a foundation around standardization and continuous improvement, and this grade reflects the consistency and discipline our teams bring to patient safety every day,” said Jana Iezzi-Tumblin, Vice President and Chief Improvement & Analytics Officer for TMH.

In a lengthy and candid social media post, Kalicki said the decision followed “radical transparency” about his strengths and limitations. While expressing pride in raising more than $20,000 in three months and contributing new ideas to the public conversation, he acknowledged that his campaign could not scale up the level of voter outreach needed to compete effectively.

“Running for office is hard, isolating, and is not for everyone,” Kalicki wrote, adding that increasing campaign intensity would come at the expense of his professional responsibilities and personal well-being. He said he did not feel comfortable continuing to ask for donations without confidence he could meet the demands required to win.

Kalicki emphasized that his withdrawal was voluntary and not the result of outside pressure. He also said he chose to exit the race early to give voters and potential candidates time to adjust before the election.

Despite stepping away from the campaign, Kalicki indicated he will remain civically engaged in Tallahassee. He plans to launch “Future Tallahassee,” an initiative focused on economic development, redevelopment, and community-driven investment. He also intends to support other candidates aligned with his priorities.

In his post, Kalicki reflected on broader challenges in local politics, including the difficulty of fundraising, the need for more trained campaign staff, and what he described as limitations in current election formats. He called for more debates over forums and expressed support for ranked-choice voting as a potential reform.

Kalicki also offered refunds to recent donors and said remaining campaign funds may be redirected to charitable causes with contributor approval.

He concluded by thanking supporters and encouraging future candidates to trust their instincts, noting the experience provided valuable insight into the city’s political landscape and policy challenges.

Relative to 2025, the Passenger Traffic Report shows year-over-year passenger counts in February were down11.9% for American Airlines and up 3.9% for the Delta Group. Impacting the numbers was the fact that Silver Airways ended service in June 2025.

The graph below shows the annualized number of passengers for the last 37-months. The highlighted numbers on the graph indicate the annual traffic during the month of March over the last four years. The annual rate of passengers at TIA in March 2026 – 883,722 – is down 8.25% when compared to one year ago (963,195). The annualized number of passengers is calculated by summing the previous 12 months of traffic.

Florida State University awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters to alumna and Spanx founder Sara Blakely during spring commencement Friday, recognizing a career built on instinct, persistence and a willingness to do things differently. 

When Blakely took the stage, she didn’t dwell on success. She talked about failure, self-doubt and the decision that shaped everything that came next. 

“The most critical thing that I did — the thing that everyone here can do — is I made one big investment early on,” she told the graduates. “I invested in me.” 

Blakely returned to campus 33 years after graduating from Florida State, where she said her dreams began, even if her path after college didn’t go as planned. 

She had hoped to become a lawyer. She failed the LSAT twice. She went to a job fair and was rejected by 20 companies. She hoped to be Goofy at Disney World and didn’t meet the height requirement. 

Eventually, she found herself selling fax machines door to door for seven years. 

“It was brutal,” she said, recalling days of rejection while her peers moved into careers as lawyers, doctors and corporate executives. 

At one point, she pulled her car to the side of the road and said out loud: “I’m in the wrong movie.” 

Two years later, she started a company called Spanx. 

What began as a simple fix — cutting the feet off a pair of pantyhose to improve the way clothing fit — grew into a global brand that reshaped the shapewear industry. Blakely built the company without outside investors, eventually selling a majority stake in 2021 after turning it into a billion-dollar business. 

She has continued working on another venture called Sneex, a footwear company she launched to combine the comfort of a sneaker with the look and style of a heel. 

FSU President Richard McCullough conferred Blakely’s degree during Friday evening’s ceremony at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, the first honorary degree awarded during his presidency. 

In introducing her, he described Blakely as someone defined by curiosity and perseverance and a cultural force whose success began with a simple belief: There must be a better way. 

After the hooding, McCullough turned back to the audience and said, “It is now my honor to introduce, for the first time, Dr. Sara Blakely.” 

Blakely told graduates that the curiosity and persistence behind her success is available to anyone willing to do the work on themselves. 

“You can be a spectator in your life or a participant,” she said. “You can be a passenger of your thoughts or the driver of your thoughts. I chose to be the driver.” 

That idea, she said, traces back to her teenage years, when her father gave her cassette tapes by author Wayne Dyer that focused on mindset, visualization and not fearing failure. She listened to them so often she memorized them, even if it made her unpopular on car rides with friends. 

Years later, after building Spanx and landing on the cover of Forbes for being the youngest female self-made billionaire, those same friends sent her a message: “Should have listened.” 

Blakely’s speech mixed humor with hard-earned lessons. She told stories about scrambling to fulfill her first major order without the right manufacturing pieces, navigating embarrassing moments on international television and writing her own patent because she couldn’t afford an attorney. 

“I had no experience, but I had belief,” she said. 

She also warned graduates about the challenge of distraction in a fast-moving world and urged them to protect time to think, reflect and grow. 

“You can distract yourself or you can discover yourself,” she said. 

At one point, Blakely held up a worn red backpack, the same one she carried as a student at Florida State and later to early business meetings. Today, it serves as a symbol for her Red Backpack Foundation, which supports women and girls around the world. 

“It’s a reminder that everything you need is already right there on your back,” she said. 

Blakely’s recognition marks the 133rd honorary degree conferred by the university.

“We appreciate Governor DeSantis’s continued confidence in Tallahassee State College and in the leadership of these trustees,” said Dr. Jim Murdaugh, president of TSC. “Each brings a strong commitment to education and a deep understanding of our community. Together, they will help shape the College’s future as we continue to grow and innovate.”

Sara Bayliss is a college admissions advisor at St. John Paul II Catholic High School in Tallahassee and a counselor at Game Plan College Admissions Counseling. Her experience guiding students and families through the college planning process provides valuable insight into the needs and priorities of today’s students.

Eugene Lamb Jr. is a longtime educator and public servant with decades of experience in the classroom and community leadership. He was originally appointed in 2007 by Governor Charlie Crist and has been reappointed by Governors Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis. His experience provides steady guidance in advancing the College’s mission and priorities. He currently serves as Chair.

Karen B. Moore is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of The Moore Agency, bringing extensive leadership experience in business and advocacy. Her work at the state and regional levels strengthens connections between the College, industry, and economic development partners.

These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

After an increase in jobs in February, job growth was reported flat in March with a decrease in the workforce.

There were 158,822 people working in Leon County in March compared to February’s revised employment number of 158,910. The size of the workforce in March was 166,613, down from the 167,161 reported in February.

Year Over Year Comparisons

The Leon County Jobs Report, provided below, shows the number of people working in March 2026 was 623 less than in March 2025. The February labor force – those looking for jobs – came in at 166,13 which was 1,075 more than reported one year ago.

The March unemployment rate of 4.7% is up from the 3.7% reported one year ago. At the state level, the March unemployment rate of 4.4% (not sea sonly adjusted) was up from the 3.5% reported one year ago.

The chart below shows the monthly level of jobs in Leon County over the last 37 months with a 12-month average trend line. The highlighted numbers relate to employment levels for the month of March back to 2023.