HIGH SPRINGS – A coalition of High Springs small business owners has launched an effort seeking greater transparency into the city’s financial management, filing public records requests aimed at examining spending, financial reporting and budget decisions over the past three fiscal years.
The requests were submitted by the Florida business law firm J. Muir & Associates on behalf of local business owners who say they want a clearer understanding of financial issues that have contributed to ongoing concerns surrounding the city’s budget situation.
According to the firm, the requests seek records including profit-and-loss statements, balance sheets, check registers, payroll records, vendor payment information, petty cash logs, bank reconciliation records and audit reports for fiscal years 2023 through 2025. The requests were filed under Florida public records laws.
The coalition says it is seeking explanations for several issues that have generated public discussion, including budget shortfalls that led city officials to discuss the possibility of eliminating municipal fire and police departments, the depletion of nearly $700,000 in emergency reserves, and an unexpected invoice totaling approximately $896,861 that city officials reportedly had not anticipated. The requests also seek information concerning the dismissal of the city’s finance director and questions involving the Community Redevelopment Agency’s financial reporting obligations.
“Our clients are small business owners who have put their life savings into this community,” Jane Muir, founding partner of J. Muir & Associates, said in a statement. “They pay taxes, they employ residents, and they depend on city services to protect their investments. They deserve to know where their money is going and why the city cannot account for it.”
Among those identified in the release was John Millett, who owns Serendipity Vintage Soda & Sweets with his husband, Brad Millett. The business owners said they have invested significant time and resources restoring a historic downtown building and building a business in High Springs.
The release also referenced actions by the state’s Joint Legislative Auditing Committee involving the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency. According to the statement, multiple state agencies were directed to withhold certain funding and pursue potential legal action related to the agency’s failure to submit a required audit.
“When a city cannot pay its bills, cannot file its required financial reports, and cannot explain where public money went, the public has every right to demand answers,” attorney Terri Thomas said. “That is exactly what Florida’s public records law exists for, and we intend to use it.”
The law firm said it requested that the city acknowledge the records request within 24 business hours and stated that legal remedies could be pursued if records are not produced as required under Florida law.
The City of High Springs had not issued a public response to the records request as of May 26.
This article is based on information contained in a statement released by J. Muir & Associates and reflects allegations and concerns raised by the business coalition. City officials’ responses were not included in the material provided.
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