News Summary
St. Petersburg city officials have responded to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ criticism regarding alleged misuse of taxpayer funds for community events and climate initiatives. DeSantis claimed the city spent significant amounts on St. Pete Pride events and a climate action plan. City officials clarified that the expenditures represent a minimal fraction of the city’s overall budget, emphasizing transparency and compliance with existing regulations. Mayor Ken Welch reaffirmed a commitment to transparent governance amidst scrutiny from the state and highlighted the importance of funding sources for community welfare.
St. Petersburg city officials are responding to criticism from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis regarding what he described as “irresponsible uses of taxpayer funds.” In a recent social media post, DeSantis highlighted an infographic claiming that the city spent over $258,000 from utility and emergency management services (EMS) for St. Pete Pride events and more than $307,000 for a climate action plan. The city asserts that these expenditures represent only a fraction of 1% of its total annual budget, which approximately totals $1 billion, with projections for the 2025/26 fiscal year budget reaching $1.1 billion.
The claims arose following audits conducted by the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia. In response, St. Petersburg officials issued a detailed statement to clarify the context of the spending mentioned in DeSantis’ post.
According to city officials, the $258,000 figure attributed to St. Pete Pride includes in-kind contributions from two fiscal years, amounting to roughly $120,000 for 2024 and over $138,000 for the current year. The event is classified as a “co-sponsored event,” meaning it is independently organized but receives support from the city. Expenditures for St. Pete Pride require City Council approval, especially for funding related to police and emergency management services. The total costs for the St. Pete Pride events were approximately $239,000 in 2024 and just under $277,000 for 2025, with half of those costs subsequently reimbursed by the organizers of St. Pete Pride.
Furthermore, the city believes the $307,000 claim associated with the climate action plan pertains to expenses linked to a $308,000 contract with Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. from 2017 for the Integrated Sustainability Action Plan (ISAP). Importantly, over $292,000 of the climate plan costs were covered by BP’s Deepwater Horizon settlement funds, while less than $15,000 came from the city’s General Fund during the period from 2017 to 2019.
The ISAP program, initiated under former Mayor Rick Kriseman, aims to achieve several goals, including transitioning to 100% clean energy, enhancing environmental stewardship, and promoting racial justice. St. Petersburg city officials emphasized their dedication to transparency and responsible financial practices in their statement regarding the governor’s claims.
Importantly, neither of the expenditures highlighted by the governor were funded by property taxes, an issue in the spotlight given DeSantis’ recent focus on eliminating property taxes. Residents are encouraged to review budget documents available on the city’s website for additional transparency concerning municipal expenditures.
Despite the scrutiny brought forth by the DOGE audit, the city has refrained from openly criticizing the process, aiming to maintain support among its residents. Mayor Ken Welch has reiterated his commitment to transparency and cooperation with the state during the audit process. As criticism mounts regarding the motivations behind the DOGE audits, with some deeming them politically motivated rather than focused on accountability, St. Petersburg officials continue to clarify their financial practices and spend to serve the community effectively.
In summary, St. Petersburg officials have taken a proactive stance in addressing the concerns raised by Governor DeSantis, presenting a detailed response that clarifies the context of expenditures related to community events and sustainability efforts, while reaffirming their commitment to transparent governance amidst the ongoing scrutiny.
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Additional Resources
- Florida Politics: St. Pete Claps Back at Florida DOGE Claims
- Google Search: St. Petersburg Florida
- St. Pete Catalyst: St. Pete is Next to Get the DOGE Treatment
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Florida
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- Click Orlando: Waste, Fraud, and Abuse – DeSantis Slams These Florida Cities
Author: STAFF HERE PETERSBURG WRITER
ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER The ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREStPetersburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in St Petersburg, Pinellas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Localtopia, and SHINE Mural Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Pete Downtown Partnership, plus leading businesses in finance, manufacturing, and healthcare that power the local economy such as Raymond James Financial, Jabil, and Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
