Photo by Christopher Collier
St. Pete Beach Commissioners approved the City’s 2027 budget Sept. 21 at the rollback property tax rate, while residents questioned planned wastewater rate increases and the City’s proposed usage tiers.
The budget passed 4-1, with Vice Mayor Lisa Robinson voting against it. The City adopted the property tax rate at the rollback rate of of 3.0757 mills. The rollback rate is the tax rate that would bring in about the same amount of property tax money as the previous year excluding new construction and improvements. One mill equals $1 in property taxes for every $1,000 of taxable property value.
City Reaches Rollback Rate
The City reduced the proposed budget by slightly more than $80,000 to reach the rollback rate.
While the City is keeping the same tax rate, individual property owners could still see changes in their tax bills if the value of their property changes.
The final budget also adds a full-time capital projects administrator to provide administrative support for the City’s capital program.
[read more below]
That’s not all that happened at the Sept. 21 St. Pete Beach Commission meeting. Read about lift stations, and residents’ concerns.
Residents Question Wastewater Increases
Wastewater rates drew some of the strongest criticism during public comment.
Resident Paul Stein challenged the proposed increases, saying the plan calls for 16% increases for three consecutive years, followed by another 5% increase.
“16% three years in a row, 16% increases,” Stein said.
Stein also questioned the City’s 6,000-gallon wastewater usage threshold. He said residential customers generally do not use enough water to reach that tier.
“It’s meaningless to establish a tier which is never met,” Stein said.
Stein also questioned when the City released a wastewater rate study prepared by consultant Raftelis. The City included the report with the materials for the Sept. 21 meeting.
Despite the concerns raised during public comment, Commissioners unanimously approved the wastewater ordinance.
The next St. Pete Beach Commission meeting at Oct. 13 at 6 p.m.
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