St. Pete Standard

St. Petersburg City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2024 budget for the City of St. Petersburg last night at the second Budget Public Hearing held at City Hall. The Fiscal Year 2024 budget begins on Oct. 1, 2023.

The City’s annual budget process is an opportunity for the City of St. Petersburg to fund its priorities through a series of resource allocation decisions while meeting the City's day-to-day service delivery responsibilities.

"I'm pleased to move forward with a FY2024 budget approved by City Council that supports my administration's Pillars for Progress and reflects a reduced millage rate and significant allocations benefitting St. Pete residents, businesses and visitors," said St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth T. Welch. "Thank you to the public for their input during the budget process, the City’s Budget & Management and Finance Departments for their attention to detail, and City Council for their support of critical City programs, services and initiatives."

The budget process has centered on ensuring the City's resources are deployed within Mayor Kenneth T. Welch's five Pillars For Progress: Housing Opportunities for All; Environment, Infrastructure and Resilience; Equitable Development, Arts and Business Opportunities; Education and Youth Opportunities; and Neighborhood Health and Safety.

In addition to reducing the millage rate for the third consecutive year, from 6.5250 to 6.4675 mills, FY2024 budget highlights include:

HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL

• Affordable Housing Land Acquisition ($1.75 million)

• Affordable/Workforce Housing Capital Improvement Program Projects ($750,000)

• Social Action Grants ($700,000)

• Rapid Rehousing ($400,000)

• Childhood Homelessness Project ($260,000)

• Pinellas Safe Harbor ($150,000)

• Pinellas Hope ($150,000)

• St. Vincent DePaul ($148,633)

• West Care Turning Point ($125,000)

• Citywide Eviction Diversion Program ($100,000)

• Neighborly Care Network – Meals on Wheels ($100,000)

• Pinellas Homeless Leadership Alliance ($25,000)

ENVIRONMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESILIENCE

• Water Distribution System Improvements projects ($17.9 million)

• Fleet Facility Building Replacement ($6.3 million)

• Connecticut Avenue NE and Vicinity Resiliency ($4 million)

• Sidewalk Reconstruction ($1.3 million)

• Stormwater System Resiliency Enhancements ($500,000)

• City Park Lighting Upgrades ($100,000)

EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT, ARTS AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

• Small Business Grants and Programs – MicroFund Program/Commercial Revitalization Program/Storefront Conservation Program ($500,000)

• District 2 Planning Project ($400,000)

• Grow Smarter Economic and Workforce Development Incentives Program ($270,000)

• Main Street Business Organizations ($220,000)

• Economic Development Corporation ($150,000)

• Greenhouse Partnership with the Chamber of Commerce ($150,000)

• Business Corridor Support Program ($30,000)

• Minority Enterprise Development Corporation ($5,000)

• Arts Grants Program ($500,000)

• Woodson African American Museum of Florida ($107,000)

• Arts Plaza Planning Project ($100,000)

• The Florida Orchestra ($100,000)

• St. Petersburg Museum of History ($87,000)

• Arts Conservatory for Teens (ACT) ($50,000)

EDUCATION AND YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES

• Year-Round Youth Employment Program ($1,000,000)

• My Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper Program ($771,304)

• Literacy and STEAM Programs ($500,000)

• Eckerd College Diversity Scholarship ($50,000)

• Workforce Readiness Program ($35,000)

• USF Bridge to Doctorate Program ($25,000)

NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH AND SAFETY

• Police Department ($147.5 million)

• Fire Rescue Department ($44.1 million)

• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Fund ($21.6 million)

• Community Assistance and Life Liaison (CALL) Program ($1,668,738)

• Body Worn Camera Program ($1,450,344)

• Six Additional Firefighter/Paramedics ($582,481)

• Five Additional Fire Cadets ($278,509)

• Healthy St. Pete Initiative ($751,502)

• Mayor’s Tree Mini Grant ($100,000)

• Neighborhood Enhancement Program ($50,000)

• Neighborhood Partnership Matching Grants ($35,000)

• Mayor’s Mini Grant ($15,000)

• Storm Drain Mural and Drains to the Bay Program ($15,000)

• Keep Pinellas Beautiful ($15,000)

The adoption of the budget was preceded by a long budget review and approval process, including the first Budget Public Hearing on September 14, where City Council adopted the tentative FY24 City Budget and millage rate, and the Budget Open House held on April 17, where the public was invited to learn about the proposed budget and share their thoughts and priorities with the Mayor and City officials. Suggestions received at the Budget Open House significantly influenced the recommended version of the budget submitted to City Council on July 13.

More information about the City budget and the budget adoption process can be found at stpete.org/budget.

Original source can be found here.