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<\/p>\nCounty Administrator Barry Burton presented the proposed fiscal year 2027 and capital plan to the Board of County Commissioners Tuesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to Burton, the recommended total budget across all funds is $5.137 billion. He added that $1.125 billion has been allocated for the General Fund budget and $1.094 billion for the Capital budget, including reserves.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Additionally, a reduction of 53.8 positions has been proposed. Many are vacant, he added, but some are currently filled. A 3% salary increase for the County workforce was also suggested.<\/p>\n
Burton explained that the General Fund has a budget deficit of more than $30 million coming into fiscal year 2027. This was caused by factors such as unfunded mandates, a reduction in sales tax revenues and inflationary pressures.\u00a0<\/p>\n
More than $501 million is reserved for the Pinellas County Sheriff\u2019s Office. This would represent 45% of the FY 2027 budget. County administrative departments would receive approximately $194 million (17% of the budget). Over $103 million has been allocated for human resources, general government and court support (9% of the budget).\u00a0<\/p>\n
Burton said that the countywide General Fund millage is proposed at 4.5423 mills, which is the same rate as FY26. This follows four millage reductions within the past five years.<\/p>\n
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Image: Pinellas County<\/p>\n
To keep the County budget balanced, a variety of changes were suggested.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He explained that the Board of County Commissioners departments have agreed to reduce their budgets by a combined $16.292 million and eliminate 34.8 General Fund positions. Additionally, the Sheriff\u2019s Office has reduced its funding request by $7.306 million. It will eliminate 10 positions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Clerk of the Circuit Court\u2019s office has reduced its budget by $297,000. Pinellas County Business Technology Services\u2019 funding will be reduced by $3.139 million, eliminating five positions. The Human Resources Department\u2019s budget will decrease by $235,000, eliminating two positions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He added that the budget for County Administration and internal services may be reduced by $727,000, eliminating nine positions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Burton and his team have also recommended reducing Social Action funding to $667,000. According to the County\u2019s website, the funds are \u201cavailable to qualified non-profit social service organizations desiring to provide services to homeless and low-income residents of Pinellas County to address their health, economic and social well-being.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
They suggested an elimination of Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) grant funding for unincorporated not-for-profit agencies as well. According to the county\u2019s website, these grants \u201csupport culture, recreation, and community enhancements for residents.\u201d\u00a0This would save the Pinellas government $220,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The cost of state-mandated sexual assault survivor services may be shifted to hospitals, resulting in a $181,000 budget reduction to the General Fund. When Commissioner Kathleen Peters asked whether the hospitals had agreed to the change, Burton said the County Administrator\u2019s Office has not yet received a response.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Burton and his team proposed returning Weedon Island and Shell Key preserves to the State of Florida, reducing the County\u2019s costs by $474,000 and eliminating 7.7 positions. Both are owned by the State, but maintained by the County.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis would be effective Jan. 1,\u201d Burton said. \u201cIt would give us time for a transition. That\u2019s only nine months of cost. But, this is hard, because this is something that our residents enjoy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n