County commissioners discuss fiscal year 2027 budget

County Administrator Barry Burton presented the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget and capital plan to the Board of County Commissioners Tuesday. 

According to Burton, the recommended total budget across all funds is $5.137 billion. He added that $1.125 billion has been allocated for the General Fund budget and $1.094 billion for the Capital budget, including reserves. 

Additionally, a reduction of 53.8 positions has been proposed. Many are vacant, he added, but some are currently filled. A 3% salary increase for the County workforce was also suggested.

Burton explained that the General Fund has a budget deficit of more than $30 million coming into fiscal year 2027. This was caused by factors such as unfunded mandates, a reduction in sales tax revenues and inflationary pressures. 

More than $501 million is reserved for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. This would represent 45% of the FY 2027 budget. County administrative departments would receive approximately $194 million (17% of the budget). Over $103 million has been allocated for human resources, general government and court support (9% of the budget). 

Burton said that the countywide General Fund millage is proposed at 4.5423 mills, which is the same rate as FY26. This follows four millage reductions within the past five years.

Image: Pinellas County

To keep the County budget balanced, a variety of changes were suggested. 

He explained that the Board of County Commissioners departments have agreed to decrease their budgets by a combined $16.292 million and eliminate 34.8 General Fund positions. Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office has reduced its funding request by $7.306 million. It will eliminate 10 positions. 

The Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office has reduced its budget by $297,000. Pinellas County Business Technology Services’ funding will be reduced by $3.139 million, eliminating five positions. The Human Resources Department’s budget will decrease by $235,000, eliminating two positions. 

He added that the budget for County Administration and internal services may be reduced by $727,000, eliminating nine positions. 

Burton and his team have also recommended reducing Social Action funding to $667,000. According to the County’s website, the funds are “available to qualified non-profit social service organizations desiring to provide services to homeless and low-income residents of Pinellas County to address their health, economic and social well-being.” 

They suggested an elimination of Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) grant funding for unincorporated not-for-profit agencies as well. According to the county’s website, these grants “support culture, recreation, and community enhancements for residents.” This would save the Pinellas government $220,000. 

The cost of state-mandated sexual assault survivor services may be shifted to hospitals, resulting in a $181,000 budget reduction to the General Fund. When Commissioner Kathleen Peters asked whether the hospitals had agreed to the change, Burton said the County Administrator’s Office has not yet received a response. 

Burton and his team proposed returning Weedon Island and Shell Key preserves to the State of Florida, reducing the County’s costs by $474,000 and eliminating 7.7 positions. Both are owned by the State, but maintained by the County. 

“This would be effective Jan. 1,” Burton said. “It would give us time for a transition. That’s only nine months of cost. But, this is hard, because this is something that our residents enjoy.” 

READ MORE: County proposing major cuts to its Parks and Rec budget

Commissioner Rene Flowers argued that the County should continue funding the Weedon Island and the Shell Key preserves. She suggested exploring an arrangement in which the State would compensate the County for overseeing the properties. 

“The County stands ready to find opportunities to get more park land and preserves, not to get rid of them,” said Commission chair Dave Eggers. “So, I don’t think the intention is, for staff or us, to get rid of that responsibility. It’s how we go about doing it.”  

Commissioner Vince Nowicki recommended exploring whether the State would be willing to transfer ownership of the Weedon Island and Shell Key preserves to the County. He said “we need to do everything that we can do to preserve all of our parks and all of our preserves.” 

Florida’s FY 2027 budget does not go into effect until July 2027, Commissioner Peters explained. She argued that the County should continue to provide funding at least until the state’s fiscal year commences.  

Additionally, County park lifeguard services may be discontinued, eliminating $374,000 in costs and 25 part-time positions. Burton said that most of the time people come to the parks, there’s a “no lifeguard on duty” sign because “we simply can’t fill the positions.”

Burton and his team recommended increasing the parking fees for County parks from $6 per day to $3.50 per hour. This is “consistent with most of the municipal parking,” he added. The suggestion would not impact beach access parking in municipalities. Additionally, the County staff proposed to increase boat ramp parking and annual pass fees. 

Burton said that the County government should reassess which services are “core responsibilities” and consider “whether other partners should carry more of the cost.”

Budget workshops are scheduled for Aug. 20 and Sept. 3. Public hearings will take place Sept. 10 and Sept. 24. The fiscal year begins Oct. 1.