The St. Petersburg City Council held its first public hearing Thursday on the administration’s proposed $1.18 billion budget for fiscal year 2026, delving into key spending priorities and expressing concerns over how well certain community needs are being met.
Property Taxes, Pension Costs Drive Debate
Although the property tax formula remains the same, the budget represents a 3.93% increase over the rollback rate — the amount of revenue that would keep the city’s income flat from fiscal year 2025. As property values rise, the plan is expected to generate about $10.45 million in new revenue, which city officials say will help offset rising pension, healthcare, and salary costs.
Key Areas of Discussion
Several items dominated the hearing. Councilmembers and residents questioned whether the current allocations are sufficient or being used effectively in the following:
- Youth programming: The proposed budget includes funding for a variety of youth‐oriented initiatives, including the Childhood Homelessness Project, Arts Conservatory for Teens, Youth Employment Program, Future Ready Academy, Youth Development Grants, STEAM and literacy education, and the Cohort of Champions/My Brothers and Sisters Keeper initiative. But some councilmembers argued that more needs to be done—and that the city should better engage residents in designing effective programs. Councilmember Gina Driscoll suggested that although the dollar amounts are substantial, the outcomes do not necessarily match the investment. Councilmember Corey Givens Jr. pointed to rising youth violence and food insecurity and urged the budget be revised to address those issues more aggressively.
- Fire Rescue & safety equipment: The St. Pete Fire Rescue department is allocated $48.34 million under the proposed budget. Driscoll, however, criticized what she saw as inadequate funding for essential firefighter safety gear (bunker gear), even while noting the department recently secured a new collective bargaining agreement.
- Complete Streets & infrastructure: The “Complete Streets” program, which aims to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, is allocated $650,000 with additional funds from impact fees to bring the total to about $1 million. Driscoll unsuccessfully moved to redirect $150,000 from a generic “Infrastructure TBD” line to strengthen the pedestrian and bicycle safety component. Infrastructure overall, including road repairs and a new fire station in West St. Petersburg, is receiving considerable attention.
- Stormwater & flooding resilience: Stormwater operations are budgeted at $47.26 million, and capital improvements have jumped significantly— from $1.7 million in 2015 to $32 million currently. But councilmembers warned that, without sustained investment, many stormwater projects will take decades to complete. One estimate suggested 50 to 60 years, not accounting for inflation or future additions. The city aims to ramp up annual stormwater spending to $50 million to meet its 30-year goals.
Dissent & Political Tensions
Not all council members were on board. Gina Driscoll and Corey Givens Jr. voted against the proposed budget — though for different reasons. Councilmember Brandi Gabbard also questioned the inclusion of a $20,000 salary raise for the nine elected officials in a year the city faces budget pressures. She offered to donate her portion of the raise back to youth initiatives.
Next Steps
The current proposal, together with recently approved utility rate increases, is set to take effect on October 1. A second and final budget hearing is scheduled for September 25 at 6 p.m., where further amendments and public input may reshape the budget.
Looking Ahead
City leaders say the budget attempts to balance rising operational costs with pressing infrastructure needs, especially in youth services, flood mitigation, and pedestrian safety. Critics, however, caution that the real test will be in how efficiently and transparently the allocations translate into actual improvements in residents’ lives.
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