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St. Petersburg residents will decide in November whether to approve a new property tax to speed up stormwater, sewage and water infrastructure projects, after the City Council voted 7-0 Thursday to place the question on the general election ballot. The measure would authorize the city to issue bonds financing $600 million in upgrades. Council member…
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In response, Polk County Public Schools is asking voters to approve a 1-mill property tax referendum in the upcoming election… #PIESun — local St. Pete-Clearwater & Tampa Bay, FL news
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The Sirata Beach Resort unveiled a $25 million renovation Wednesday night during a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking a major transformation for the 65-year-old property. The overhaul included the addition of central air conditioning, hurricane impact windows, refurbished guest rooms, renovated restaurants, and an updated pool and beachfront bar. As part of the project, the resort also…
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Hillsborough County’s review of assessment fees and taxing units mirrors a statewide trend as counties adapt budgets for the amendment’s possible passage.… #PIESun — local St. Pete-Clearwater & Tampa Bay, FL news
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Roughly 62,000 hospitality-related jobs in Hillsborough County are either currently unfilled or expected to open in the near future… #PIESun — local St. Pete-Clearwater & Tampa Bay, FL news
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Belleair town officials are warning residents that the city’s recreation programs, community events and longstanding traditions could face significant reductions if Florida voters approve the proposed constitutional amendment on property taxes this November, Amendment 3. During a July 21 Town Commission meeting, Recreation Manager Kelly Flowers-Bonefas outlined how the proposal could affect the town’s Recreation…
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The city of Venice is asking residents to share their flooding experiences from Hurricanes Helene and Milton as officials work to update the city’s Floodplain Management Plan, which is set to expire soon. Nearly two years after the storms struck, some waterfront properties along Tarpon Center Drive are still undergoing repairs. Resident Jenny Heussner, who…
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A new affordable townhome development is moving forward in Tarpon Springs after receiving unanimous approval from the City Commission. The project will bring 32 townhomes to a site on Mango Street near Disston Avenue, just outside the city’s downtown area. City leaders approved the development as part of an ongoing effort to increase housing options…
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Homeowners associations across the country are drawing renewed scrutiny after a wave of cases in which residents faced foreclosure over relatively small unpaid debts, and Florida homeowners are among those most exposed, according to recent housing data. Cases in Georgia, Ohio, Maryland and North Carolina have highlighted the broad powers many associations possess to place…
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New research shows that nearly half of working households across Tampa Bay are struggling financially, even as local food assistance organizations report record levels of aid distributed to the community. According to data from the Tampa Bay Partnership, 46% of working households in the Tampa Bay region continue to struggle to make ends meet. Feeding…
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A Leon County circuit judge has ordered Florida officials to rewrite the ballot title and summary for Amendment 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that would expand property tax relief for homeowners and limit future tax increases on many other properties. Judge David Frank ruled that the current ballot language does not meet Florida’s legal standard…
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A Pasco County ZIP code has been named the fastest-rising destination for relocation in the United States so far this year, according to a new study. The study, conducted by MovingPlace, found that Land O’Lakes’ 34637 ZIP code led all U.S. ZIP codes in year-over-year ranking increases, climbing 1,527 places over the past year. MovingPlace…
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Construction has entered the first visible phase of Port Tampa Bay’s planned fourth cruise terminal, marking the beginning of a major expansion of the port’s cruise operations. Crews have started filling the former Metroport site, preparing the land for the future terminal. Port officials said the work represents the first noticeable stage of a long-term…
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A long-anticipated stormwater project meant to ease chronic flooding along South Howard Avenue in south Tampa is dividing residents and business owners as the city prepares for a final vote. The $100 million project is expected to take years to complete and would reduce flooding for more than 200 homes and businesses in the area,…
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Sarasota city commissioners have unanimously voted to suspend recently expanded paid parking enforcement following weeks of criticism from residents and downtown business owners. The suspension pauses longer parking enforcement hours that took effect earlier this summer while city leaders review the program and consider potential changes. Commissioners said they plan to gather additional public input…
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Nearly two years after Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck the Gulf Coast, some Madeira Beach property owners are still deciding what to do with vacant lots left behind by the storms — and at least one option now involves turning empty land into paid parking. Mike Wyckoff, a longtime real estate broker and Madeira Beach…
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St. Petersburg officials are considering a long-term plan to gradually replace many of the St. Pete Pier Marketplace’s temporary vendor tents with permanent kiosks, a proposal intended to improve the experience for both merchants and visitors. The Pier Marketplace currently includes seven permanent kiosks and 21 tent spaces that house nearly 30 local businesses selling…
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Clearwater residents gathered for a budget workshop Saturday to learn how a proposed statewide constitutional amendment could affect city services and funding if voters approve it in November. Amendment 3 would increase homestead exemptions for homeowners, effectively phasing out property taxes over the next several years for qualifying properties. To qualify, a property must be…
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The Oldsmar City Council has approved the key terms of a development agreement that would transform 8 acres of city-owned land into a walkable downtown district. The site sits between Tampa Road, State Street and Washington Avenue. Under the terms approved in late July, the city attorney will now draft a formal development agreement based…
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The Tampa City Council is expected to take a final vote on the design of the proposed South Howard Flood Relief Project, a stormwater infrastructure initiative intended to reduce chronic flooding in parts of South Tampa. The project has generated support from residents affected by flooding and opposition from some business owners concerned about its…
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Central Florida is expanding infrastructure to support testing and future operations of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, known as eVTOLs, as state and local officials prepare for the potential introduction of short-distance regional air travel. The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority has approved plans to develop a vertiport at Orlando International Airport that would support…
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Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation reports that home insurance premiums have decreased in 51 counties so far in 2026 as the state’s hurricane season continues. State lawmakers say insurance reform legislation passed in 2022 is now correcting the market. They point to three factors: fewer lawsuits filed by homeowners, a shrinking number of policies held…
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Pinellas County collected more than $36 million in tourist development taxes this spring, marking a new record for Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, the county’s tourism marketing organization. Tourism officials said 12% of visitors now travel specifically for special events, including sporting competitions such as the St. Pete Grand Prix and the Red Bull Cliff Diving Competition,…
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Hernando County commissioners will decide whether to reopen the West Hernando Branch Library or let its temporary closure become permanent, as officials look for ways to bring spending in line with expected property tax revenue. County staff listed the permanent closure as one of several potential budget cuts. The West Branch, formally the Staffordene T.…
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St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch says the city is moving into a new phase of redevelopment for the Historic Gas Plant District following the selection of development proposals for the long-vacant site, emphasizing affordable housing, economic opportunity and honoring commitments made to the former neighborhood. Speaking during a recent edition of WFLA’s Rooted in Progress,…
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Madeira Beach officials are moving forward with a project aimed at reducing chronic tidal flooding after securing $100,000 in state grant funding to help install new backflow valves throughout the city. The city has identified 13 low-lying locations where the valves would be installed. The project is expected to cost approximately $200,000, with the state…
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Rising prices are hitting parents hard this back-to-school season, prompting the city of Clearwater and community partners to step up with free backpack and supply giveaways ahead of the new school year. According to data from The Century Foundation and Groundwork Collaborative, families will pay significantly more for basic supplies than they did last year,…
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Tampa city leaders are considering changes aimed at improving fire and emergency medical response times in New Tampa after data identified the area as having some of the city’s longest emergency response times. According to Tampa Fire Rescue officials, New Tampa’s continued population growth has increased demand for emergency services, placing additional pressure on existing…
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Time is nearly up for Pinellas County residents hoping to tap into an unusual pot of federal disaster money that helps hurricane survivors buy homes instead of just repairing them. The Pinellas Recovers Homebuyer Assistance Program is accepting applications through Friday, offering eligible residents up to $80,000 in down payment assistance using federal disaster recovery…
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A Leon County judge is set to decide whether the ballot title and summary for a proposed Florida property tax amendment must be rewritten, after a group of former officials sued the state over the measure’s wording, raising the possibility of further delays to a tax relief plan already headed for the ballot. The lawsuit…
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The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority will launch a new bus route this October connecting downtown St. Petersburg to Tampa International Airport, a change local business owners say could ease chronic parking shortages in the downtown corridor. The route will cross the Howard Frankland Bridge daily and include nine stops throughout downtown St. Petersburg. Downtown business…
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Small-town leaders in Polk County are pushing back against a proposed state constitutional amendment that would sharply increase Florida’s homestead exemption, warning that the change could gut municipal budgets that rely heavily on property tax revenue. Amendment 3 would raise the state’s homestead exemption for non-school property taxes from $50,000 to $250,000. Supporters, including Gov.…
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With the 2026-2027 school year approaching, community organizations across the Tampa Bay area are hosting a wave of giveaway events to help families stock up on backpacks, school supplies and other essentials before the first day of class. Citrus County The FUMC Homosassa Back to School Bash runs Saturday, Aug. 1, from 10 a.m. to…
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The City of St. Petersburg has been awarded a $2.2 million federal grant to fund stormwater mitigation projects on two roadways that flooded repeatedly during past hurricanes, city officials announced. Mayor Kenneth Welch said the projects represent a small piece of the city’s broader resiliency efforts but will meaningfully help residents and drivers who use…
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Hillsborough County Public Schools will provide free meals to all students at select schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2026-2027 school year, the district announced. CEP is a provision that allows eligible schools to offer meals to all students at no cost to their families, regardless of household income. The district…
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Polk County commissioners voted last week to raise water connection fees and irrigation rates, a move officials say is needed to manage rising construction costs and protect local groundwater supplies. The board approved an increase to the one-time connection fees new developments pay to join local water treatment facilities. Utilities officials said the increase is…
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Hillsborough County officials are urging residents with serious medical needs to register for storm assistance well before a hurricane threatens the area, rather than waiting until an evacuation is imminent. The push came during the county’s final “Make a Plan” community discussion, which focused on helping residents preregister for special needs shelters and transportation services…
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Florida recorded more foreclosure filings than any other state in the country during the first half of 2026, according to a new report from property data firm ATTOM. The report found Florida logged the highest average annual foreclosure filings per ZIP code in the nation, at 4,871, ahead of New Jersey, Delaware, Nevada and South…
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Florida’s Division of Unclaimed Property is currently holding more than $2 billion in forgotten money and unclaimed property that belongs to residents and former residents statewide, according to the state’s Department of Financial Services. Officials estimate that roughly one in five Floridians has unclaimed funds tied to a forgotten financial account. The unclaimed property typically…
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A scenic boardwalk through Hammock Park in Dunedin could be permanently closed if voters approve a November referendum eliminating property taxes, a city parks official told commissioners at a July 9 meeting. Commissioners voted unanimously that night to approve a $152,231 contract with Price Marine Construction of Tarpon Springs to replace the aging structure. But…
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The City of St. Petersburg’s long-running franchise agreement with Duke Energy is set to expire at midnight Friday, and the city currently has no active negotiations underway to renew it, according to Duke spokesperson Ana Gibbs. Gibbs said Duke is reviewing what the expiration will mean for both the city and the company, and that…
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A group of Clearwater residents has launched a petition drive seeking to overturn the City Council’s decision to transfer a portion of South Garden Avenue to the Church of Scientology for a planned downtown redevelopment project. The grassroots organization, Save the Garden, must collect approximately 7,000 valid signatures by mid-September to force a citywide referendum…
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A certified arborist is urging Tampa Bay property owners to inspect the trees on their property for signs of disease and structural weakness before severe weather hits, saying a healthy, well-pruned tree remains the best defense against storm damage. Lee Claxton, a board-certified arborist, walked through warning signs to look for, including branches overloaded with…
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