City council members have adjusted their spending priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. Most would consider maintaining current service and staff levels a win amid historic budgetary pressures.
St. Petersburg faces a $17.87 million preliminary budget gap, more than double the deficit at this point in fiscal year 2023. Proposed property tax legislation could eliminate $89 million in expected revenue, forcing officials to reduce all non-public safety expenditures by 47% in 2027.
Budget director Liz Makofske told the council Thursday that, like every year, the administration would eliminate the preliminary shortfall before public hearings in September. The current goal is to “balance the city’s needs with its resources by making difficult decisions” based on shared priorities…