News Summary
The St. Petersburg City Council has approved a tentative budget of $1.18 billion for fiscal year 2026, reflecting a 3.93% increase largely due to rising property values. Key funding areas include youth programming, fire rescue, and stormwater infrastructure, although residents have expressed concerns over the adequacy of youth funding. The budget will take effect on October 1, with another hearing scheduled for September 25 to finalize discussions.
St. Petersburg – The St. Petersburg City Council approved a tentative budget for fiscal year 2026 amounting to $1.18 billion during a budget hearing held on Thursday. This budget reflects a 3.93% increase, resulting from a property tax formula that remains unchanged but generates an additional $10.45 million due to increasing property values.
During the budget hearing, Mayor Ken Welch was notably absent, and discussions centered on critical areas of funding including youth initiatives, St. Pete Fire Rescue, the Complete Streets program, and stormwater infrastructure. The budget and the agreed utility rate increases will come into effect on October 1, 2025.
Concerns were voiced by residents regarding the city’s investment levels in youth programming, despite substantial allocations in the budget. The budget designates $260,000 for the Childhood Homelessness Project, $50,000 to the Arts Conservatory for Teens (ACT), $400,000 for the Youth Employment Program, $500,000 for the Mayor’s Future Ready Academy, and $295,000 for Youth Development Grants. Additionally, literacy and STEAM education will receive $530,750, while the Cohort of Champions/My Brothers and Sisters Keeper initiative is allocated $234,320. Residents expressed a belief that these funds do not adequately address the needs of the community’s youth.
Before the vote, Council member Gina Driscoll raised concerns about the effectiveness of the current youth programming funding and the necessity of engaging residents to find better solutions. In contrast, Council member Corey Givens Jr. highlighted the escalating issues related to youth gun violence and food insecurity, cautioning that the city’s current initiatives may not sufficiently tackle these urgent matters.
In regard to funding for St. Pete Fire Rescue, which is allocated $48.34 million for FY26, Driscoll expressed discomfort with the level of funding, particularly in comparison to the Police Department’s budget of $170.46 million. There was also debate regarding new bunker gear funding for firefighters. Some council members pointed out that there is no immediate necessity following a recent collective bargaining agreement with the firefighters’ union.
The budget encompasses a total of $650,000 for the Complete Streets program, supported by an additional $350,000 from impact fee revenues, bringing the total to $1 million. Despite proposals aimed at enhancing bicycle and pedestrian safety, a motion to reallocate $150,000 specifically for this purpose failed with a vote of 2-5.
Furthermore, the budget allocates $47.26 million for stormwater operations, which includes a recognized need for capital improvements to manage persistent flooding issues across the city. Public Works Administrator Claude Tankersley reported a significant increase in planned capital improvement budgets for stormwater management, aiming to better address these ongoing challenges.
While the budget received support from the majority of council members, Driscoll and Givens voted against it for differing reasons. The council chair, Copley Gerdes, was absent from the meeting. A second and final budget hearing is scheduled for September 25 at 6 p.m. at Council Chambers, where further discussions may shape the final version of the budget.
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Additional Resources
- Fox 13 News
- Wikipedia: St. Petersburg, Florida
- St. Pete Catalyst
- AOL News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Budget
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.
