BCC lowers property tax rate in the first of two votes to approve budget

The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners on Thursday approved the tentative Fiscal Year 2027 Budget, keeping local funding for Weedon Island and Shell Key preserves and reducing the countywide property tax rate for the fifth time in six years.

Despite rising costs and tens of millions of dollars in unfunded mandates, the Commission found innovative ways to ease the burden on taxpayers, reducing countywide property taxes by $6.026 million from the originally proposed budget. The reduction was achieved by keeping reserves flat, adjusting parking fees and numerous other budget efficiencies identified by the Commission and County staff.

The County budget funds core services such as public safety, road and bridge maintenance, County parks and community programs as well as capital improvements, including investments in transportation and stormwater infrastructure, beach nourishment, and maintaining and enhancing County buildings and critical assets.

The Commission will hold a second public hearing on Sept. 24 to adopt the final tax rates and budget. The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

The County budget is less than one third of residents’ property tax bills. The rest is for other agencies and functions that are not under County purview, such as the school system, municipalities and the transit authority.