Pasco County, near Tampa, is second with 397.5 students for every assistant principal position. The state average is one assistant principal position for every 486.6 students.

The data shows that LCS employees 88 assistant principals. If LCS followed the state average, the number of assistant principals would be reduced to 62 positions, a decline of approximately 27%.

TR has previously reported that from 2018-219 to 2024-25, LCS school administrators increased by 28%, from 170 to 217. The 47 positions added during this period included 13 assistant principals.

As these administrator positions were being added, the number of students dropped by approximately 8%, from 33,543 in 2018 to 29,990 in 2024. In addition, the number of teachers decreased from 2,070 in 2018 to 1,772 in 2024. Also, the “School Administration” budget line item increased by $23% or $4.7 million, from $20.4 million to $25.1 million.

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.

Leon County Commissioner Brian Welch was the only no vote. Following the meeting, Welch posted written comments about the issue and a link to a video of his comments during the meeting on his social media platforms.

Welch’s written comments are provided below:

“I will always support polices that uplift ALL people in our community, especially in areas of need, neglect or disinvestment. I supported our recent County resolution apologizing for our history of slavery. But this is not a resolution, this is about policy. I cannot in good conscience, support an effort that builds a framework to deliberately and specifically direct funding to “individuals or communities” whose “ancestors” were harmed by historical injustices. The amendment as written is clearly about reparations, taking from today’s taxpayers and redistributing that revenue deliberately and specifically to people whom they didn’t harm. That effort is a non-starter for me and is bad public policy in my opinion. Especially if that policy jeopardizes all of the good work and investment we are presently making to uplift and improve our entire community. We are making great strides in Leon County and in the 32304 zip code specifically. This effort would not heal old wounds, it would only serve to create new ones.”

His comments during the meeting are provided below:

Earlier this year, the proposed amendment failed to receive the needed support from the charter review committee vote, failing 9-9. However, the Leon County Commission directed staff to conduct an analysis of the proposal and report back to the commission.

The report, presented during the April 14 meeting, highlighted concerns about the legality of such an amendment in the wake of anti-DEI legislation recently signed into law.

However, the 6-1 vote tasked the county attorney with revising the proposed amendment to remove any references to reparations, slavery and DEI.

Commissioner Nick Maddox said the measure is not about DEI. “This is about historic harms and public policy,” he said. “It’s about legislation that harmed anyone regardless of race.”

The proposal calls for the county to study past injustices and allocate funding toward corrective initiatives. Leon County Commissioner Brian Welch, who voted against the measure, said the proposal is plainly reparations.

The Report

The Leon County Commission previously received a report on a proposed charter amendment aimed at addressing long-standing disparities tied to historic public policies, but officials were not expected to take further action after the charter review committee declined to advance the measure earlier this year.

The proposal, presented by Dr. Strouble and reviewed by a county committee on Feb. 19, 2026, sought to require the county to systematically assess and address what the measure defined as “persistent disparities” experienced by individuals or communities whose ancestors were affected by unconstitutional historical policies. Committee members ultimately voted not to recommend the amendment to the full commission, citing legal and practical uncertainties.

Under the proposal, the county would have been required to conduct historical impact audits every five years to identify communities affected by policies such as slavery, debt peonage, convict leasing, segregation under Jim Crow laws, exclusionary zoning, and urban renewal programs that displaced residents. The audits would document the policies involved, evaluate present-day disparities, and recommend programs or investments to repair or mitigate those impacts.

The amendment also would have authorized the creation of a Community Restoration Fund dedicated to supporting services and investments for affected communities. Additionally, it would have allowed the county to prioritize access to county-owned land for individuals or communities determined to have experienced disparities stemming from historic policies.

However, the county staff analysis concluded that the scope and intent of the proposal were unclear in several key areas. One unresolved question was whether the amendment would require the county to address only its own past actions or also policies enacted by other entities, including state and federal governments or private actors.

During earlier discussions in January 2026, the proposal included explicit references to race. That language was removed before the February meeting and replaced with the term “unconstitutional,” a change supporters said was intended to make the measure more broadly applicable. Still, staff noted that many of the historic policies referenced in the amendment involved protected classes, raising potential legal concerns.

Those concerns were amplified by recent state and federal actions limiting the use of diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI-related programs. Florida lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1134 during the 2026 legislative session, a measure scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, unless vetoed by the governor. The legislation broadly prohibits local governments from funding or implementing programs that provide preferential treatment based on protected characteristics such as race, sex, or ethnicity.

County officials warned that violations of the law could carry significant consequences, including potential removal from office for elected officials found to be in violation. Residents would also have the ability to file legal actions seeking damages or court orders to halt prohibited programs.

Federal policy changes could also affect the county’s ability to move forward with initiatives tied to the proposed amendment. New federal contracting and grant requirements are expected to require recipients of federal funds to certify compliance with anti-discrimination laws and avoid programs considered discriminatory under federal standards.

Leon County receives substantial federal funding, including grants for infrastructure and public safety projects. Officials cautioned that adopting policies perceived as conflicting with state or federal requirements could jeopardize those funds.

Despite these concerns, elected officials voted to have staff conduct a further analysis which was the basis for the discussion at the April 14 meeting.

During the meeting, Maddox said the Charter Review Committee could reconsider the issue if DEI is not part of the approach. Some Charter Review members did say they would have voted for the amendment if not for legal issues.

“And I want the public, the general public to understand what I’m voting on. I’m going to say it one more time so I’m clear. I am not voting on a race or gender-based program. I am not voting on DEI,” said Maddox.

The agenda item before the elected officials indicated that negotiations between Leon County officials and the North Florida Fair Association had reached an impasse, prompting county leaders to consider several options that could shape the future of the fairgrounds and a major publicly funded redevelopment project.

County staff recently delivered a status report to the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency Board outlining the results of months of discussions tied to the Blueprint Fairgrounds Beautification and Improvements project, a $30 million initiative approved in 2024. The project is intended to modernize aging infrastructure, improve facilities, and position the property for long-term redevelopment and economic growth.

At the center of the disagreement is control of the land.

The county owns the approximately 107-acre fairgrounds property, which has been leased to the North Florida Fair Association since 1995 for $1 per year through December 31, 2067. Under the current lease, the association has broad operational authority, and any significant improvements or development require approval from both parties. That arrangement has been identified by county staff as a limitation on moving forward with redevelopment plans.

In February, the Blueprint board directed staff to renegotiate the lease to provide the county with greater site control, particularly over roughly 50 acres identified in the master plan for future mixed-use development, infrastructure upgrades, and recreational amenities.

County officials proposed several changes, including shortening the lease term, granting the county naming rights to the property, adding six county-appointed members to the association’s governing board, and establishing joint operations of a new 20,000-square-foot community building. The proposal also included provisions allowing for relocation of the annual fair if a suitable site became available.

However, the North Florida Fair Association declined most of those terms and instead presented a counterproposal centered on obtaining ownership of approximately 60 acres of the property, including commercially valuable frontage along South Monroe Street.

In a letter submitted March 27, the association stated that its “primary and consistent objective” is to secure ownership of land necessary to continue its mission. While the association agreed to maintain its programming responsibilities and acknowledged the possibility of relocation, it rejected proposals to shorten the lease, grant exclusive naming rights, or relinquish development control over key portions of the property.

County staff noted that the county cannot unilaterally modify or terminate the lease unless the association dissolves, declares bankruptcy, or fails to hold the annual fair.

The fairgrounds remain a significant economic driver in the region. A 2021 feasibility study estimated that visitors generate approximately $79 million in annual economic impact. The nonprofit association, which operates independently from local government, reported about $2.67 million in cash and investments and no outstanding debt as of 2023. The organization employs six full-time staff members and roughly 100 seasonal workers during the annual fair.

With negotiations at a standstill, county staff recommended three potential paths forward for elected officials to consider at the April 14 meeting. One option would maintain the current lease through its 2067 expiration date. Another would consider transferring ownership of a portion of the property to the association under specific conditions requiring continued investment and programming. A third option would involve pursuing state legislation to restructure the association’s governance and increase county oversight.

In the end, the commission voted to appoint Caban as a negotiator.

The Board approved 16 Consent Items unanimously (7-0). This included 6 items that were pulled for further discussion.

Consent Items

Item 1: Minutes: January 27, 2026.

Item 2: Payment of Bills and Vouchers.

Item 3: Acceptance of a Florida Department of Transportation Occupant Protection & Child Passenger Safety Program.

Item 4. PULLED – Supervisor of Elections’ Proposed Alteration of Voting Precinct Boundaries. Proctor discussion.

Item 5: PULLED – Resolution Affirming the County’s Commitment to Treating all Individuals with Dignity and Respect. Cummings asked to continue item to a future meeting.

Item 6: Public Safety Coordinating Council’s Recommendation for the FY 2026 Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant.

Item 7: Local Agency Program Supplemental Agreement with the FDOT for Construction of the Big Bend Scenic Byway Project.

Item 8: PULLED – Authorization to Negotiate Structural Engineering Services Continuing Contracts with Multiple Firms.

Item 9: Three-Year Software and Licensing Maintenance Agreement for the Enterprise Telephone System. 

Item 10: PULLED – March 2026 Quarterly Economic Dashboard Report. Proctor discussion.

Item 11: Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Domi Entrepreneurial Community Impact Report.

Item 12: PULLED – Status Report on Leon County’s Efforts Related to the Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment. Proctor requested workshop.

Item 13: Calendar Year 2025 Supervised Pretrial Release Program Report.

Item 14: PULLED – Informational Item on the Leon County Infrastructure Engineering Standards and Guidelines Manual.

Item 15: Fiscal Year 2025 Code Enforcement Annual Report.

Item 16: Leon County Board of Adjustment and Appeals 2025 Annual Report.

General Business

Item 17: The Board voted 6-1 to Establish the Fiscal Year 2027 Maximum Discretionary Funding Levels for Outside Agencies. Okeefe voted no.

Item 18: The Board voted 6-1 for a Resolution Placing a Countywide Straw Ballot on County-City Consolidation. Ballot. Okeefe voted no.

Item 19: The Board voted 7-0 to Request to Schedule the First and Only Public Hearing to Consider a Board-Initiated Charter Amendment to Update Charter Language.

Item 20. Status Report on the 2025 – 2026 Leon County Citizen Charter Review Committee.

1.The Board voted 6-1 to prepare a Board-initiated Charter Amendment providing uniform countywide street naming, renaming, and property numbering (addressing) standards to be established by County ordinance which shall prevail in the event of a conflict with municipal ordinances. Maddox voted no.

2. Food Insecurity Policy Recommendation. The Board voted 4-3 to continue the County’s long-standing commitment to reducing food insecurity in the community through the County’s existing structure. Maddox, Proctor, Okeefe voted no.

3. Esteemed Humanity Charter Amendment. The Board voted 7-0 to direct staff to prepare a Charter Amendment revising the Charter Preamble to reflect the esteemed humanity of all residents of Leon County.

4. Healthcare Access Charter Amendment. The Board voted 4-3 to continue Leon County’s long-standing commitment to ensuring healthcare access for low-income residents. Maddox, Proctor, Okeefe voted no.

5. Affordable Housing Trust Fund Charter Amendment. The Board voted 4-3 to continue the County’s long-standing commitment to increasing and preserving the stock of affordable housing. Maddox, Proctor, Okeefe voted no.

The proposed measure establishes a local option ad valorem tax exemption for rental developments with at least 50 units that reserve a portion of apartments for low-income households. The exemption will apply only to the County’s share of property taxes — specifically the general fund and EMS Municipal Services Taxing Unit — and will not affect taxes levied by the City of Tallahassee, Leon County Schools, or other taxing authorities.

The ordinance stems from authority granted under the 2023 Live Local Act, which expanded affordable housing incentives statewide. While state law already provides property tax exemptions for certain affordable housing developments — particularly those financed through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation — the proposed local ordinance will extend incentives to projects that do not qualify for existing state exemptions, including developments between 50 and 69 units.

Under the ordinance, developments that dedicate all units to households earning 60% or less of Area Median Income (AMI) would receive a 100% exemption on County property taxes. Projects that reserve at least 20% of units for households at or below 60% AMI would receive a 75% exemption on those qualifying units. Units not set aside for low-income households would remain fully taxable.

According to data from the Shimberg Center for Housing Studies at the University of Florida, the greatest housing need in Leon County is for rental units affordable to very low-income households earning 50% or less of AMI, or approximately $46,150 annually for a family of four.

County officials note that over the past five years Leon County has committed $5.8 million in direct funding and authorized approximately $198 million in bond financing to support the development of more than 1,200 affordable rental units.

The exemption will take effect beginning with the 2027 tax roll. Property owners will need to apply to the County’s Division of Housing Services by January 15, 2027, with final eligibility determined by the Property Appraiser’s Office. The ordinance will sunset after four years, allowing the Board to evaluate its fiscal impact and effectiveness before considering renewal.

A nonbinding, countywide advisory referendum will be on the Nov. 3, 2026, General Election ballot to gauge public sentiment on potential consolidation. The so-called “straw ballot” would not create a unified government but would signal whether voters are open to the idea.

The ballot title adopted by the commission states, “Advisory Referendum to Pursue a County-City Consolidation Plan Under Leon County
Government Structure and Leadership.”

Commissioner David O’Keefe voted against the item.

The proposal follows months of discussion. In November 2025, the board directed staff to analyze county-city consolidation in Florida and outline the legal process. A December 9 status report reviewed national and state experience, noting that full structural consolidations are rare and that evidence of cost savings and economic benefits is mixed.

In Florida, Jacksonville–Duval County remains the only successful example of a fully unified city-county government. Efforts elsewhere in the state have failed, including four previous attempts in Tallahassee–Leon County in 1971, 1973, 1976 and 1992. Past research found that local skepticism often centered on specific charter details — such as representation, treatment of constitutional officers and urban-rural balance — rather than outright opposition to consolidation.

The December report also highlighted the extent of existing “functional consolidation” between the city and county through joint programs. These include the Department of PLACE, the Tallahassee–Leon County Planning Department, the Office of Economic Vitality, Blueprint, the Consolidated Dispatch Agency and TLCGIS — partnerships designed to improve efficiency without fully merging governments.

Under Article VIII, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution, any formal consolidation would require a special act of the Legislature and subsequent voter approval of a consolidation charter. The advisory referendum would not trigger that process but could inform future decisions.

The referendum gives voters their first formal say on consolidation in more than three decades.

The Board approved 14 Consent Items unanimously (7-0). This included 6 status reports.

Status Reports

Item 9: 2025 Annual Real Estate Portfolio Report
Item 10: Status Report on the Co-Location of Outside Service Agencies at Florida Department of Health in Leon County Facilities
Item 11: Status Report for Golf Cart Crossing on Dempsey Mayo Road
Item 12: Annual Status Report on the Leon County Water Quality Monitoring Program and the 2025 Water Quality Report
Item 13: Status Report on Laws Prohibiting Loitering on Private Property
Item 15: Status Report on the Fiscal Year 2024 External Audit Findings

Consent Items Pulled for Discussion

Item 14: Update on World Cross Country Tallahassee 2026 and Continued Discussions with World Athletics to Host Future Championships. The Board voted 6-1 (Minor voted no) to accept the status update and authorize travel for the Chairman to accompany the County Administrator and key staff for upcoming in-person engagements with World Athletics leadership to advance the Board’s initiative for Leon County to become the permanent home of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships.

General Business

Item 16: Fairgrounds Beautification and Improvement Project Update with Board Direction on Lease Renegotiation. The Board voted unanimously to enter into lease negotiations with the North Florida Fair Association. The county is seeking a shorter lease and reclaiming 50 acres for potential mixed-use development. The current lease, signed in the 1950s, allows the fair to use the land for $1 annually, requires both parties’ approval for major projects, and runs until 2067. The county’s proposed changes include adding six county officials to the fair’s leadership board, reclaiming 50 acres for development, shortening the lease term and potentially gaining the power to relocate the fair entirely with mutual agreement. Th eitem noted the Chairman’s participation would reinforce the Board’s clear commitment to establishing a long-term hosting framework with World Athletics.

Item 17: Status Report on the Financial Review of Tallahassee Museum’s Use of Public Grant Funds. The Board voted unanimously to accept staff’s financial review of the Tallahassee Museum’s use of Tourist Development Tax (TDT)-funded grant awards following concerns that, over the past five years, the Museum paid a board-affiliated vendor (i.e., a vendor owned by, employing, or controlled by a member of the grantee’s governing board/board of trustees) without a competitive procurement process. Based on the records reviewed, staff determined that the TDT-funded expenditures examined complied with applicable state law, the Museum’s governing policies and procedures, and the County’s grant guidelines. While the review did not identify improper expenditures or violations, it underscored a policy gap that can create the appearance of impropriety and self-dealing in County TDT-funded programs; therefore, staff determined that necessary and appropriate revisions to the upcoming County Tourism Grant Guidelines are warranted to prohibit the use of County TDT grant funds to pay board-affiliated vendors. 

Item 18: Full Board Appointment to the Canopy Roads Citizens Committee. The Board voted to appoint Mark Mahoney to the Canopy Roads Citizens Committee for the remainder of a three-year term ending on October 31, 2027.

As of December 31, 2025, the County Real Estate Portfolio consisted of 529 parcels totaling 5,748 acres, and 96 buildings with 2,252,539 square feet. These buildings have various uses. A summary of the 2025 Leon County Real Estate Portfolio is reflected in Table #1.

Facilities-Owned

There are 80 buildings that support the daily business of Leon County Government, Constitutional Offices, and other public entities, and comprise 2,178,340 square feet. These buildings are located on 51 parcels that support County or County-supported functions such as the Historic Amtrak Station,
Library, Public Health Offices, Public Safety Complex, Public Works, Solid Waste Collection sites, etc.

In addition, the County owns or operates facilities in support of its Parks and Recreation Program which are detailed in a separate section of this item.

Of the 80 County-owned buildings, three buildings generate leasing activity which is facilitated by the Division of Real Estate Management. The Leon County Annex (Annex), the Lake Jackson Town Center, and Cross Creek square, generates approximately $2.5 million in annual revenue for the County. Leon County contracts with NAI Talcor to market these properties.

Parks and Recreation

This category includes Boat Landings, Community Centers, Parks, and Parks-leased. Parcels are utilized for recreation, well-being, and entertainment for County citizens.

The portfolio contained 70 parcels, with 2,782 acres, and 16 buildings in 2025. This includes four parcels leased from the State of Florida and Leon County Schools to provide an additional 730.53 acres of recreational access to residents without having to acquire the property.

Leased properties for parks and recreation include the J.R. Alford and Miccosukee Canopy Road Greenways, Canopy Oaks Community Park, and Fort Braden Community Park.

Due to the controversy related to local officials helping with the enforcement of immigration laws, Leon County commissioners debated whether or not to accept the State Board of Immigration Enforcement funds.

The LCSO senior executive director and CFO, Elise Gann, told commissioners that if they denied the grant, the sheriff’s office would pay the costs with local tax money.

After the meeting, O’Keefe took to social media to explain his vote and wrote, “I will not abandon my morals, my integrity, or my belief in the human dignity of every person. Leadership means standing firm when it matters most. Grant dollars should never come at the cost of fear or harm.”

He added, “Whenever we detain or arrest someone for ICE and transfer them to ICE custody, we bear some responsibility for what happens next.”

O’Keefe also compared the agreement to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and to municipal orders under the Nuremberg Laws. The Nuremburg Laws were antisemitic and racist laws enacted in Nazi Germany on September 15, 1935.

Commissioner Rick Minor, who voted to support the grant, noted that “A yes vote means the state pays for this. Today’s vote only determines who pays for this.”

The Grant

Under the agreement with ICE, LCSO will enforce immigration violations as part of their routine duties and allow ICE to train, certify, and authorize local law enforcement to serve and execute administrative warrants in their jails.

A $250,000,000 appropriation was authorized to pass through to local law enforcement agencies and county detention facilities in support of the grant program.

LCSO has been awarded up to $499,523 for the reimbursement of costs incurred between February 17, 2025, until June 30, 2026.

LCSO’s CFO says the sheriff’s office has spent about $29,000 to support immigration enforcement and has had 87 ICE detainers at the Leon County Detention Facility.

FULL STATEMENT BY LEON COUNTY COMMISSIONER DAVID OKEEFE

Today, I voted to approve eight important public safety grants for Leon County—grants that protect children, assist victims, combat human trafficking, and keep our community safe. However, I voted NO on the immigration enforcement grant, and I want to explain why.

The Commission voted 6-to-1 to accept the immigration grant funding. As my colleagues said at the meeting, they are not voting in agreement or in support of the ICE campaign of so-called immigration enforcement. They only voted to accept state tax dollars for this activity.

I also want to be clear that I understand the Sheriff is in a difficult position under these overreaching dictates from the State of Florida. Our Leon County Sheriff is the best law enforcement professional we could ask for.

As for my vote.

History warns us that “just following the law” has led to grave injustices before—from the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 to municipal orders under the Nuremberg Laws. Accepting this grant means agreeing to participate in a system that harms people, instills fear, and strips people of their dignity. Whenever we detain or arrest someone for ICE and transfer them to ICE custody, we bear some responsibility for what happens next.

Today, we learned that the State is requiring deputies to deploy to state immigration camps across Florida. The terms of this grant impose additional requirements beyond the previously mandated cooperation: reporting all interactions with suspected immigrants into a database—including full details about their lives, work, families, and photo—even if they are not arrested. It allocates $250,000 for ICE training and bonuses for 62 deputies, making up over half of the state grant total.

I will not abandon my morals, my integrity, or my belief in the human dignity of every person. Leadership means standing firm when it matters most. Grant dollars should never come at the cost of fear or harm.

Earlier this month, detectives with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) Unit began talking with Black on an online chat platform while posing as a 13-year-old child. During those conversations, Black continued communicating even after being told the person he was talking to was a minor and sent obscene material of himself to the undercover detective.

As a result of the investigation, Black is charged with one count of distribution of obscene material to a minor, one count of unlawful use of a computer to seduce, solicit or lure a child and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communications device.

The investigation further revealed that Black engaged in similar conversations with two additional minors on the same platform. This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and additional charges may be filed pending further review.

At the time of his arrest, he was employed as a sergeant with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.