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County commission approves $4.3 billion budget, tax cuts

Mark Parker

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From an offshore dredge, sand and water are pumped onto the south beach at Pass-a-Grille in late July. Pinellas County's fiscal year 2025 budget ensures funding for all beach nourishment projects. Photo by Bill DeYoung.

Pinellas County property owners will see their tax rate decrease for the third time in four years, despite officials increasing public safety and infrastructure funding.

County commissioners unanimously approved the final fiscal year 2025 budget Sept. 19. The $4.3 billion spending plan represents a roughly $500 million increase over 2024.

The budget takes effect Oct. 1 and includes a .186-mill property tax rate reduction. However, revenues will continue to increase due to rising property values, and county officials expect a $995.25 million general fund.

Despite reducing 10 of 23 millage rates, the spending plan includes $3.3 billion for county government services and $1 billion for capital improvement projects. After the meeting, Commissioner Charlie Justice said the cuts show “we do understand there is an affordability situation out in the world.”

“In real dollars, it’s about $90 million that Pinellas is not bringing in with the lower taxes,” Justice added. “That’s substantial money. I wish everyone could feel a huge impact on their bills, but it is a significant amount of money when it comes to taxes we’re not collecting.”

The county budget only accounts for about a third of most property tax bills. The remainder goes to municipalities, the school district, the transit authority and other agencies.

Justice noted that roughly 10 different entities take a percentage of most residents’ property taxes. He would “bet that two, maybe three” lowered millage rates this year in most municipalities.

“We want to have an impact where we can,” Justice said. “It would be nice if everyone across the board would be as fiscally conscious as we are during these tough times.”

Justice said in Florida, the date someone purchases a home likely impacts their annual property taxes more than local millage rates. He and neighbors on either side of his West St. Pete home pay “three very different tax rates.”

Pinellas officials prioritized support for Sheriff’s operations, regional 911 services, first responders and the Emergency Operations Center. Justice said commissioners approved the largest public safety budget in the county’s history.

“They’re about to earn their money in the next couple of days,” Justice said. County officials will meet Tuesday morning to discuss what will soon become Hurricane Helene.

Commissioners also increased funding for transportation, stormwater and wastewater infrastructure. Justice said the county has nearly tripled its spending on pipe replacement projects to roughly $25 million annually over the past eight years.

“I think a government budget is a reflection of your priorities and values,” he added. “For us, public safety was number one. Then you have infrastructure – the roads, pipes and everything that is maybe not the sexiest issues of the day, but it’s really important for everyone’s … quality of life.”

Justice believes funding those priorities provides comfort for residents and business owners. He also noted that commissioners are “incredibly proud” of how the Penny for Pinellas sales tax impacts the budget.

Revenues from the one-cent sales tax offset rate reductions. It also eliminates the need to fund capital projects through bond issuances and allows officials to “pay as we go,” Justice explained.

He said Pinellas has the lowest debt ratio of any urban Florida county. The sales tax will also help strengthen area beaches.

Commissioners fully funded all beach nourishment projects through fiscal year 2025. Justice said the roughly $9 million allotment accounts for emergency restoration following extreme weather.

He and other officials remain optimistic that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will change its stringent property easement requirements and uphold preexisting funding agreements. However, a recent “ultra-conservative” study showed commissioners could fund those and other capital projects and keep $130 million in reserves.

The budget also includes support for an emergency mobile Family Reunification Center, the recently launched Care About Me coordinated behavioral healthcare access model and affordable housing initiatives with municipal partners. “I think we have a very good budget this year,” Justice said.

“And again, hopefully, the budget reflects the values of the community.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Comment

1 Comment

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    SB

    September 24, 2024at8:34 pm

    The article indicates that taxes are going down. When in fact, revenues are up.

    And despite the science fiction dystopian look of our city just a few weeks ago after a predictable and not all that unusual summer storm, the city has decided to increase flood control by only 0.58%?

    It seems like our public leaders need a reality check about what priorities should be.

    Wasting money on baseball stadiums and DEI initiatives when people’s streets, homes, businesses, and cars flood after a simple summer rain.

    Yes, 5 inches in one area in one hour is a lot… But we all know that the storm water system is a disaster and has been known to be a disaster for decades. Flooding here after rain storms is the rule, not the exception.

    Luckily the taxpayers get to pay for all the increased flood insurance premiums, auto premiums for flooded cars, uninsured losses, and lost home value because of the requirement to disclose prior flooding to homes . That’s going be great for all the taxpayers.

    Want a great way to make housing in this area unaffordable?… Just let your city flood periodically and unnecessarily because you don’t maintain the stormwater system.

    Talk about a disaster for owners and renters and businesses. Just let the city flood periodically because you don’t maintain or upgrade the storm water system.

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