City of St. Petersburg, FL

10/06/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/06/2026 14:42

St. Petersburg City Council Approves the City’s 1.018 Billion Budget for Fiscal Year 2027

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (October 6, 2026) - St. Petersburg City Council approved the fiscal year 2027 budget of $1,017,757,894 for the City of St. Petersburg at the second budget public hearing held at City Hall. The fiscal year 2027 (FY27) budget began on Oct. 1, 2026. The annual budget process allows the City of St. Petersburg to allocate resources to its key priorities while ensuring it can continue to provide daily services effectively.

"The Fiscal Year 2027 budget builds on our commitment to a stronger, more resilient St. Petersburg," said Mayor Kenneth T. Welch. "As our community continues to recover from the impacts of the 2024 storms and prepares for the challenges ahead, we are focused on strengthening our economic and community resilience, investing in infrastructure built to endure, and ensuring our City has the capacity to deliver the critical services our residents depend on. Focused on our Pillars for Progress, and guided by fiscal responsibility, intentional inclusivity, and thoughtful investment of public dollars, this budget positions St. Petersburg to meet today's needs while preparing for tomorrow. I'm grateful to City Council, our City team, and our community for their continued partnership as we put these investments to work."

The budget process has centered on ensuring the City's resources are deployed within Mayor 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.

Last year's budget emphasized resilience and prioritized strengthening the City's infrastructure in response to climate change impacts, the FY27 budget builds on that foundation and strengthens that focus by advancing economic and community resilience as the City continues long-term recovery from the 2024 storms. To continue building resilience, this budget prioritizes infrastructure that is built to endure, invests public dollars wisely, and improves capacity to deliver critical City services.

The FY27 Capital Improvement Program budget totals $197 million and contains funding for projects to protect our environment and improve our City's infrastructure. The budget for the Public Works Administration is $355.8 million and encompasses five departments. The Public Works Administration departments' budget reflect the City's commitment to improving infrastructure, maintaining assets, and preparing for the future.

OTHER FY 2027 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS
Housing Opportunities For All

  • Housing and Community Development Department Operating Budget ($10.2 million)

  • Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan for Affordable Housing Land Acquisition ($4.5 million)

  • Housing Capital Improvement Fund ($1,124,000)

  • Social Action Grants ($700,000)

  • Rapid Rehousing ($400,000)

  • Childhood Homelessness Project ($260,000)

  • Pinellas Hope ($215,000)

  • Pinellas Safe Harbor ($150,000)

  • St. Vincent DePaul ($148,633)

  • Westcare Turning Point ($125,000)

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

  • Pinellas Homeless Leadership Alliance ($25,000)

Environment, Infrastructure, and Resilience
Public Works Administration Operating Budget ($355.8 million)

  • Water Reclamation Facilities Improvements projects ($22.4 million)

  • Lift Station Improvements projects ($8.4 million)

  • Water Distribution System Improvements projects ($29.9 million)

  • Water Treatment/Supply projects ($27.75 million)

  • Sanitary Sewer Collection System projects ($12.45 million)

  • Bartlett Lake/Salt Creek Pump Station ($8 million)

  • Local-Scale Stormwater Mitigation Projects ($5 million)

  • Connecticut Ave NE and Vicinity Resiliency Storm Drainage Imps. ($15 million)

  • Shore Acres Denver Storm Drainage Improvements ($2.8 million)

  • Complete Streets ($1.55 million)

  • Sidewalks ($2.7 million)

  • Street and Road Improvements ($8.775 million)

  • Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Improvements ($7.834 million)

Equitable Development, Arts, and Business Opportunities

  • Arts Grants Program ($557,000)

  • Small Business Grants and Programs ($150,000)

  • The Palladium ($250,000)

  • Main Street Business Organizations ($220,000)

  • Citywide Workforce Development Programming ($61,000)

  • St. Petersburg Economic Development Corporation ($150,000)

  • City/Chamber Greenhouse Partnership ($155,000)

  • Corporate Relocation and Expansion ($15,000)

  • Target Industry Economic and Workforce Development Incentives Program ($100,000)

  • Teak Job Creation Incentive ($100,000)

  • St. Petersburg Museum of History ($75,000)

  • Individual Artist Grants ($60,000)

  • Arts Conservatory for Teens ($50,000)

  • Arts Micro-Grants ($50,000)

  • Localtopia ($50,000)

  • Business Recruitment Event Aid ($40,000)

  • Sister City Initiative ($40,000)

  • Qualified Target Industry Commitments ($13,000)

  • Soul Fest ($20,000)

  • Poetry Festival ($10,000)

Education and Youth Opportunities

  • Mayor's Future Ready Academy ($500,000)

  • Year-Round Youth Employment Programs ($400,000)

  • Youth Development Grants including Boys & Girls Club and Junior Achievement Class Sponsorship ($130,000)

  • The Genius Lab ($250,000)

  • Literacy and STEAM programs including:

  • Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation ($250,000)

  • USF Science Center at Clam Bayou ($100,000)

  • Education and Youth Opportunities Community Grants ($95,000)

  • USF Camp Bulls Eye ($68,750)

  • St. Pete College CAMP ($32,000)

Neighborhood Health and Safety

  • Police Department ($185.8 million)

  • Fire Rescue Department ($55.1 million)

  • Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Fund ($27.2 million)

  • Body Worn Camera, Fleet in-car video, Taser, and Drone programs ($6.0 million)

  • Community Assistance and Life Liaison (CALL) Program ($1.8 million)

  • Healthy St. Pete Initiative ($1.3 million)

  • Six Additional Full-time Sworn Fire Positions ($801,451)

  • Two New Fire Codes Inspectors ($245,012)

  • Community Impact Grants & Programs ($225,000)

  • Healthy Neighborhood Store Program ($122,500)

  • Community Food Grants Program ($100,000)

  • Neighborhood Enhancement Program ($150,000)

  • Neighborhood Partnership Grants ($75,000)

  • Neighborhood Partnership Matching Grants ($50,000)

  • Mayor's Mini-Grant ($25,000)

  • Keep Pinellas Beautiful ($15,000)

  • Stay Cool St. Pete - formerly the Mayor's Tree Mini Grant Program ($100,000)

The adoption of the FY27 budget was preceded by an extensive review and approval process, this includes the first budget public hearing on September 3, 2026. After the public hearing, City Council adopted the tentative FY27 city budget and millage rate. A FY27 Budget Open House was held on April 13, 2026 for the public 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 16, 2026. More information on the FY27 city budget can be found at www.stpete.org/Budget.

City of St. Petersburg, FL published this content on October 06, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 06, 2026 at 20:42 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]