ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) \u2014 St. Petersburg officials are preparing for potential budget shortfalls if voters approve Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 property tax relief proposal in November.<\/p>\n
City leaders say the measure could reduce property tax revenue by $50 million to $70 million annually, forcing difficult decisions about how to fund city services.<\/p>\n
St. Petersburg City Councilman Copley Gerdes said the city is projecting a significant decline in property tax revenue if the amendment passes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re anticipating about $248 million to come in from ad valorem taxes in 2027,\u201d Gerdes said. \u201cUnder that phased exemption, the city would lose approximately $50 to $70 million of that $248 million, which frankly barely covers police and fire.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ad valorem taxes are property taxes based on the value of real estate.<\/p>\n
Gerdes said city leaders are already discussing how they could make up for the lost revenue.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you are shifting dollars, you are taking them away from something else,\u201d he said. \u201cThis conversation is, are there other sources of revenue either A, we can create, or B, that we have currently that we could shift to this.\u201d<\/p>\n
If the amendment is approved by voters, Gerdes said any budget adjustments would likely affect multiple departments rather than a single area of city government.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not going to be from one place. It\u2019s going to be from multiple, which then affects multiple departments,\u201d Gerdes said. \u201cI couldn\u2019t give you one specifically, but it would be across the system.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the potential funding challenges, Gerdes said maintaining public safety services would remain the city\u2019s highest priority.<\/p>\n
City council members briefly discussed the issue during a recent meeting before referring it to two committees for further review next month.<\/p>\n
City council members briefly discussed the issue during a recent meeting before referring it to two committees for further review next month.<\/p>\n
The proposed constitutional amendment will appear before Florida voters during the November general election.<\/p>\n
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