St. Petersburg is preparing for a financial problem city leaders hope never arrives.
Months before Florida voters decide whether to approve Amendment 3, city administrators are preparing to hire a consultant to develop a fire assessment, one of the few legal ways the city could replace lost property tax revenue if the constitutional amendment passes.
The move would not immediately create a new fee. Instead, it would allow the city to begin the work needed if voters approve a measure administrators estimate could reduce St. Petersburg’s General Fund revenue by $33 million in fiscal year 2028 and another $21 million the following year…