News & Public Affairs

St. Pete residents weigh city budget options listen

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Tags: St. Pete, budget, Bill Foster, the People's Budget Review

St. Pete officials are taking input from residents on how to manage the city’s money. During the first of three budget summits last night in Northeast St. Pete, residents weighed in on what services and projects they think officials should prioritize. Lou Brown III has worked on a project called the people’s budget review that surveyed more than 500 residents.

“Ten percent responded with ending racism, segregation and enhancing the southside. Nine percent of responses were Pier related...

Listening to residents, St. Pete raises property taxe rate for first time in more than two decades listen

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Tags: The People's Budget Review, St. Pete City Council, Fire Readiness Fee, property tax, millage rate, St. Petersburg, Rays, stadium

St. Petersburg City Council has approved a budget that doesn’t include the controversial Fire Readiness Fee. After hearing from impassioned public comment, council members increased the city’s millage rate in a final vote Thursday night.

Winding up the 2012 fiscal year, St. Pete officials found themselves having to dig into reserves to cover a more than $5 million shortfall. To cover that, city officials proposed a flat tax on all properties regardless of their value. The [Fire Readines...