Author: Owen E. Richason IV
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Residents of St. Petersburg continue to receive extraordinarily high water bills months after city officials claimed billing issues were resolved, with thousands of billing adjustments required and no clear solution in sight. The Problem Michelle McConnell, a longtime resident who typically paid $79 monthly for water service, received a $2,200 bill in February claiming she…
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Florida TaxWatch has released five property tax relief proposals for lawmakers to consider as the legislature prepares for the 2026 session, following continued public demand for tax reduction measures. The nonpartisan government watchdog organization outlined options ranging from immediate legislative reforms to gradual elimination of property taxes on homestead properties. The proposals come as Florida…
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Pinellas County residents affected by Hurricanes Idalia, Helene, and Milton will soon be able to apply for assistance from an $813 million Community Development Block Grant awarded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The grant addresses widespread damage from the three storms, with Hurricane Helene causing over 33,000 homes to be damaged in…
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The City of St. Petersburg has begun installing flood panels at its Northeast Water Reclamation Facility to prevent shutdowns during future hurricanes, city officials announced Monday. The facility was forced offline for the first time during Hurricane Helene in 2024, then again during Hurricane Milton. The shutdowns prompted the city to implement flood protection measures…
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Pinellas County commissioners unanimously approved a contract with Horne LLP to manage more than $813 million in federal hurricane recovery funds, despite concerns about the Mississippi-based consulting firm’s previous work. The county hired Horne to oversee the implementation and administration of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds awarded earlier this year to help residents…
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St. Petersburg residents will see their utility bills rise by an average of $12.73 per month starting October 1, following a City Council vote on September 4 to increase rates by approximately 8.5%. The rate increases are intended to fund the St. Pete Agile Resilience Program, which fast-tracks infrastructure projects designed to strengthen the city’s…
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Florida lawmakers are meeting this week to discuss various proposals for reducing or eliminating property taxes for homestead owners, continuing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push for tax relief that began during the 2025 legislative session. The Florida House Select Committee on Property Taxes is holding meetings Monday and Tuesday to review multiple reform options. Any major…
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Florida has experienced a sharp increase in debt collection call complaints, with Tampa ranking among the most affected cities nationwide, according to new Federal Trade Commission data. Florida Sees 179% Spike in Complaints Florida ranks third nationally for debt collection complaints, recording 12,705 reports in the first quarter of 2025 alone. This represents a 179%…
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The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced it will expand the operating hours of school speed zone cameras to cover the entire school day, rather than just drop-off and pick-up periods. Previously, the cameras operated only 30 minutes before and after school when warning lights were flashing. Under the new system, cameras will capture speeding violations…
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Largo city commissioners are expressing doubts about the city’s participation in a Duke Energy solar program that has already cost taxpayers more than $150,000, with questions mounting about whether the 33-year commitment will deliver promised returns. During a September 9 commission work session, several commissioners criticized the 2020 decision to join Duke Energy’s solar program,…
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The Pinellas County School Board is considering school closures following a decline in student enrollment. At a workshop Tuesday, Superintendent Kevin Hendrick told board members the district will begin reviewing options in response to a drop of more than 3,000 students compared to last year. No schools have been identified for closure at this time.…
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The Town of Indian Shores has approved a tentative $6.56 million budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, reflecting financial impacts from hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. The Town Council voted 4-0 to adopt the budget and maintain the property tax rate at 1.8700 mills per $1,000 of assessed property value. Council member Nicholas Menchise…
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Pinellas County’s bed tax collections have declined for two consecutive months, with lingering hotel and vacation rental closures identified as a key factor, according to Visit St. Pete-Clearwater (VSPC). Several hotels and short-term rentals damaged in last year’s hurricanes remain closed, particularly in southern Pinellas. Eddie Kirsch, VSPC’s director of digital and data, said most…
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Floridians who suffered storm damage last year from the 2024 hurricane season are facing fast-approaching deadlines to file insurance claims. According to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, more than 436,000 claims have already been submitted from the storms. But for those who haven’t filed yet, time is running out. State law allows one year…
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Florida public schools are seeing significant enrollment declines, with Hillsborough County reporting a loss of about 7,000 students since last year. Much of that decrease is being attributed to a rise in homeschooling. At Ovations Dance Academy in Tampa, the ballet studio has transformed into a part-time classroom. Owner Orlando Peña created a homeschool-friendly space…
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In less than two months, Americans will once again turn their clocks back an hour as daylight saving time comes to an end, bringing earlier sunsets. Some lawmakers want this to be the last time the nation makes the switch. While states are pursuing different approaches — from permanent daylight saving to permanent standard time…
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A fiscal oversight group is urging Florida lawmakers to adopt a new law called the Florida Government Efficiency Act that would require state agencies to seek and report cost‐saving measures more regularly. The proposal comes from Florida TaxWatch, an independent government watchdog. What the Proposal Would Do Why It’s Being Proposed Jeff Kottkamp, vice president…
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Florida’s new State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Tallahassee is rising quickly and is set to be fully operational by the 2026 hurricane season. The $200 million complex is engineered to withstand winds topping 200 mph while accommodating hundreds of emergency personnel. Its expanded footprint more than doubles the size of the current headquarters, with…
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In response to the widespread damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, officials and homeowners in Pinellas County are moving ahead with elevating homes and implementing stricter floodplain standards — part of what authorities say is a longer-term strategy to protect lives and property. What’s happening Why it matters Challenges and community impact What comes…
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City leaders in Kissimmee are weighing whether to launch a public information campaign to highlight the potential fallout of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposal to eliminate property taxes statewide. Mayor Jackie Espinosa said property taxes are the backbone of the city’s budget, with most of the money going to essential services. In Kissimmee, property taxes flow…
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The Pinellas County school district has offered teachers a 0.7% raise this year, the amount tied to the district’s share of $100 million in state-approved salary funding. Gov. Ron DeSantis and Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas have urged districts to deliver the increases quickly, even if it means bypassing collective bargaining. The Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association…
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Federal investigators have issued preliminary findings pointing to the pool deck of the Champlain Towers South condominium as the probable origin of the deadly 2021 collapse that claimed 98 lives. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), evidence indicates that the structural failure began in a slab-column connection within the pool deck—at…
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Tampa’s roads are getting a multimillion-dollar boost. Hillsborough County has transferred $13 million to the city to fund intersection upgrades, including new traffic signals, crosswalks, and design improvements aimed at reducing crashes and congestion. The investment comes as Tampa marks four years of its “Fix It Fast” program, launched in 2021 to repair potholes and…
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Florida drivers with Progressive Insurance could soon see refund checks or credits thanks to a state law limiting how much profit auto insurers can earn. According to NBC affiliate WBBH, Progressive has surpassed that cap for the past three years. As a result, the company is required to return a portion of those profits to…
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A Florida House committee is preparing to take its first steps toward reshaping how property taxes are levied across the state — but Gov. Ron DeSantis’ most ambitious ideas won’t be part of the discussion. Rep. Toby Overdorf, R-Palm City, co-chair of the new House Select Committee on Property Taxes, said lawmakers will examine a…
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Lakeland Electric is poised to become the first utility in the U.S. to operate a liquid nitrogen-based power generation plant. The pilot project, developed in partnership with American Independent Power, will combine solar heat with liquid nitrogen to produce electricity. Officials say the system will provide enough energy to power about 5,000 homes. The half-acre…
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St. Petersburg residents will see stormwater rates climb another 17.5% in October, following a 25% increase last year. Many want developers to shoulder more of the cost for long-overdue infrastructure improvements, but city officials say impact fees won’t arrive until at least 2027. At Thursday’s final public hearing on utility rates, several speakers urged the…
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For decades, the Saffir-Simpson scale has ranked hurricanes only by wind speed, ranging from Category 1 to 5. But experts say that the system overlooks the deadliest threats: storm surge and flooding. University of South Florida geosciences professor Jennifer Collins, working with researchers from a university in the Netherlands, has helped design a new system…
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St. Petersburg residents will see higher utility bills beginning October 1, 2025, after the City Council approved a series of rate increases during a public hearing Thursday night. The adjustments affect water, wastewater, reclaimed water, stormwater, and sanitation services for the 2026 budget year. City officials say the updated fees are necessary to maintain reliable…
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The Sarasota-Manatee campus of the University of South Florida has unveiled plans for a new STEM academic facility that will serve students from all USF campuses. The project follows the expiration of the campus’s lab space lease with Mote Marine Laboratory in May 2025 and received unanimous approval from the USF Board of Trustees Finance…
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St. Petersburg leaders are set to take a final vote Thursday on whether to raise utility rates to fund hundreds of millions in infrastructure improvements. Mayor Ken Welch said the proposal would increase utility bills by 8–10% on average. The city estimates it needs roughly $614 million for stormwater and wastewater upgrades. District 4 Council…
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Eight insurance companies have been fined in Florida for mishandling claims during Hurricanes Ian and Idalia, state officials announced. Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky said the companies collectively face $2 million in penalties for violations that included using unappointed adjusters, failing to acknowledge claims communications promptly, omitting required disclosure statements, not providing the Homeowners Claims Bill…
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The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office says speed cameras in school zones are making an impact, with thousands of drivers cited since the program began less than a year ago. Since the first cameras were activated in November 2024, nearly 5,800 tickets have been issued. About 3,100 drivers have already paid the $100 fine, generating more…
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The creators of a new documentary say too many Tampa Bay homebuyers suffer from what they call “hurricane amnesia” — forgetting past storms when shopping for waterfront views and desirable neighborhoods. Filmmaker and former weatherman George Siegal hopes his film Built to Last, Buyer Beware pushes buyers to ask tougher questions about flood risks, storm…
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A new report from the Resilience Action Fund, a nonprofit promoting sustainable building practices, shows property values in St. Petersburg’s Shore Acres dropped following last year’s storm season—while prices in a nearby, less flood-prone neighborhood went up. The study analyzed 36 single-family homes in Shore Acres that were purchased between 2000 and 2024 and sold…
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They hop, move, and even give off the scent of a marsh rabbit — but these aren’t real bunnies. They’re robotic decoys designed to lure out Burmese pythons, one of the Everglades’ most destructive invasive species. The South Florida Water Management District has launched the experimental program in partnership with University of Florida researchers, hoping…
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Homeowners across the Tampa Bay region are increasingly entangled in legal disputes with Florida Roof Specialists, a contractor accused of placing liens and pursuing lawsuits to enforce payments. The Florida Attorney General’s Office confirmed it has launched an active consumer investigation into the company, citing 128 formal complaints. Notably, 61 of those complaints were filed…
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When Jim and Rachelle Pennington bought their house in St. Pete’s Oak Ridge neighborhood in March of 2001, they imagined it would be their forever home—a safe and comfortable place to grow and raise a family. The property had everything the young couple needed to build a firm foundation for the kids they had planned…
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Florida regulators have approved another round of policy transfers from Citizens Property Insurance Corp., continuing the state’s effort to shrink the insurer of last resort as private carriers step back into the market. Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky last week signed orders allowing five private insurers to take on as many as 87,925 Citizens policies in…
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A Miami lawmaker says it may be time to do away with homeowners associations in Florida altogether. Republican Rep. Juan Carlos Porras argues HOAs have become overly controlling, mismanaged, and lack transparency. “People just want to live in the free state of Florida without authoritarian boards telling them what they can and can’t do with…
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Florida’s new high school graduation requirements are drawing pushback from parents, especially families of students with disabilities. The state Board of Education recently eliminated certificates of completion as an option for students who finish coursework but don’t meet full diploma standards. Parents worry the change could leave students with special needs with fewer opportunities after…
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Most Millennials and Gen Z renters say keeping up with housing costs is a struggle, according to a new Redfin survey. The real estate brokerage, which partnered with Ipsos to survey more than 4,000 U.S. homeowners and renters in May 2025, found that nearly half reported difficulty affording housing. Among Millennials and Gen Z renters,…
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Hundreds of Clearwater homes may soon be reclassified into flood zones that require insurance, according to preliminary maps recently released by FEMA. The city’s Floodplain Administrator, Gene Henry, stated that the updated flood maps are based on more accurate data collected over the past five years, including LiDAR and improved elevation information. “This is very…
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St. Petersburg police are warning drivers that cruising too fast through floodwaters could now lead to a ticket. For the first time, officers have the authority to cite motorists who create damaging wakes, thanks to a new state law pushed by Rep. Lindsay Cross and Sen. Nick DiCeglie. The measure aims to protect neighborhoods that…
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