Public forum highlights St. Pete’s budget crunch

The City of St. Petersburg invited residents to share their thoughts and priorities for a budget that Mayor Ken Welch pledged would have an “intense focus” on environmental resilience.

However, most people who spoke at Monday evening’s Budget Open House advocated for initiatives that mitigate youth violence and foster safer streets. City Council Chair Copley Gerdes said their participation helps ensure officials “don’t just fund programs, but we fund the right programs.”

All stakeholders face budgetary hurdles that began with back-to-back hurricanes and increased with federal funding cuts and market chaos. St. Petersburg’s preliminary fiscal year 2026 budget, unveiled in January, currently has a $16.8 million deficit.

“There are unlimited needs and limited resources, and that’s a challenge – this year, more than ever – we are facing,” said Councilmember Lisset Hanewicz. “We are listening, but I want everyone to know it is going to be a challenging year.”

The budget will evolve as the process extends through September. Administrators expect property values and tax revenues to continue increasing but at a slower rate than in previous years.

Much-needed infrastructure and facility maintenance, city employee pension, salary and medical insurance increases and ongoing storm recovery costs will strain resources. Welch said the overarching goal is to fund essential services while addressing current and emerging needs.

Officials estimate that general fund revenue will increase by 3.2% to $406.22 million. They also expect expenditures to spike 7.5% to $422.98 million.

“We all have the same impactful mission – to identify priorities and implement programs and services that will improve the quality of life for all residents in the City of St. Petersburg,” Welch said. “And to balance our resources with our diverse needs.”

Those diverse needs include citywide infrastructure improvements, creating and preserving affordable housing, homelessness mitigation, small business support and increasing arts funding. Welch also listed several youth outreach, workforce development and safety programs.

The community selected Forward Together, a youth crime initiative focusing on foundational causes, to receive $1 million in funding. Several public speakers said the city must do more to protect children from entering prison … or a funeral home.

The local Dream Defenders affiliate was again well-represented at the open house. According to its website, the grassroots nonprofit envisions “communities where safety is built through solidarity, care and self-determination rather than through punishment and surveillance.”

Several representatives urged officials to fund youth programs rather than increase the St. Petersburg Police Department’s $160.4 million budget. Jay James said the group has attended city meetings for a decade, and “nothing has been done.”

“I am tired of waking up or being called in the middle of the night and being told that another baby has been killed,” James said. “What are ya’ll doing about it?”

James said the city may not be able to address the root cause of youth crime – poverty – but it could provide transportation to programs, conduct community outreach and provide staff to have meaningful conversations with residents in violence-prone neighborhoods. “The things we do for free. Ya’ll have the funding to do that.”

Dr. Amanda Brezicki was one of the few attendees who spoke about ongoing storm recovery issues. She said the permitting department is understaffed, overworked and unable to meet with people who have waited over six months to repair their homes.

“This has been the biggest barrier to getting people back into their homes,” Brezicki said. “The city needs to make sure they are staffed to handle a disaster like this because it’s not ‘if’ but ‘when’ this will happen again – probably this year.”

Councilmember Corey Givens Jr., a former community activist, said children are the city’s “greatest asset,” and officials should “put our money where our mouth is.” He agreed that most South St. Petersburg residents remain unaware of available programs.

Councilmember Brandi Gabbard credited the Dream Defenders for their commitment to supporting local youth and consistently holding the city accountable. She also noted that “resources are limited” and “we have some tough times ahead of us.

“But I want to assure you that the council you have is committed to finding a way to try and balance those priorities and do the most with the resources we have.”

Welch concluded the meeting by recapping several youth-focused initiatives he has recently implemented. He announced new programming that will educate parents and guardians on how to navigate social media – a common place for kids to acquire guns.

Welch said the city will continue exploring innovative solutions to mitigate youth violence. He also pledged to increase funding for St. Petersburg’s groundbreaking Community and Life Liaison (CALL) program, which provides a compassionate civilian response to nonviolent 911 calls without accompanying officers.

“It’s not an either-or, whether we fund the police or fund these programs,” Welch said. “We’re going to fund both.”