will attract visitors and help provide economic stimulation within the City. The City funds most of all events with a small amount raised by sponsors.
b) Several City departments, including Fire, Police, Parks and Recreation, and Public Works incur the time and overtime costs for these events which are absorbed into the respective departmental budgets.
4. Parks & Recreation:
a) The annual operating budget for the department is $2,264,454 (Parks & Recreation Expenditures, page 211). Capital outlay for Parks and Recreation is $412,000 in the General Fund with an additional capital outlay of $75,000 in the Capital Improvement Projects budget in the Sales Tax Capital Projects Fund (Capital Projects Parks & Recreation, page 342).
5. Additional information can be found on the City's website: https://www.eustis.org/ and the City's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CityofEustis.
The Fiscal Year 2025/26 Significant Events and Accomplishments
It is projected that General Fund expenditures for FY 2025/26 will be under budget. A significant amount of savings is attributed to position vacancies. Additionally, each department has limited their expenditures as much as possible. Other major accomplishments include the following:
Elected Commissioner Emily A. Lee to serve as Mayor and elected Commissioner Gary Ashcraft to serve as Vice Mayor for the City of Eustis. The Mayor and Vice-Mayor are elected at the first regular City Commission meeting in January each year.
Released a custom smartphone application by the Eustis Police Department. This app will serve as an innovative way for the police department to connect with Eustis residents and visitors, providing information quickly and efficiently to anyone with a smartphone.
Achieved the Distinguished Budget Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the FY 2025/26 Budget, maintaining this recognition for eleven consecutive years.
Completed the City's annual audit with no management comments from the auditors; applied for the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the GFOA the 37th consecutive year, based on the audit for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025.
Worked to secure reimbursement from FEMA and the State of Florida for costs associated with debris removal and damage sustained by Hurricane Milton by the Finance Department and successfully closed out project.
Installed playground pieces at Elizabeth Circle Park
Installed new playground pieces for Carver Park
Installed new playground pieces at Sunset Island Park
Renovated Sunset Island Park basketball court
Renovation made to the Elizabeth Circle Park tennis court
Installed new A/C in the Garden Room
Installed new A/C at Women's Club
Audio equipment installed in Women's Club
Installed new basketball goals at the Curtwright School Gymnasium
Installed new lights in the Women's Club parking lot
Renovated the Parks & Recreation Program Room
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