The Idea of an MSTU for Tierra Verde
The County is no longer considering idea of an MSTU to fund amenities in Tierra Verde.
Pinellas County held a public information meeting and heard community input on the idea of dedicated Tierra Verde Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) to pay for amenities in Tierra Verde. The following message was sent to the community on the evening of 4/15/2025:
To the Tierra Verde Community,
We want to express our sincere gratitude for your valuable input and active participation as we worked together to explore solutions for maintaining the landscaping and Sports Complex after TVCA canceled its agreements to provide these services.
Our goal was to gauge whether the community supported establishing an MSTU to continue funding the enhanced services previously provided by TVCA. While MSTUs have been successfully implemented in other parts of the County, Commissioners have always moved forward with such proposals only when there is clear community-wide support.
Following our public meeting on April 8th and subsequent feedback—including numerous social media posts and hundreds of communications opposing the MSTU—it is clear that many in the community do not support the creation of an MSTU. The Board of County Commissioners has listened to your concerns and will not move forward with this proposal for Tierra Verde.
We acknowledge that the initial approach was expedited, and many in the community felt they needed more time to fully consider the issue.
Without the enhanced services previously provided by TVCA, both the Bayway and the Sports Complex will revert to the State and County’s standard service levels.
In response to your feedback, we are implementing the following changes:
- April 16th Community Meeting: The meeting will proceed as scheduled from 6–8 p.m. at Tampa Bay Watch (3000 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, FL 33715). The MSTU proposal and millage rate feedback will no longer be discussed. We will address the ongoing challenges with the enhanced median and sports complex and answer your questions.
- April 23rd Virtual Meeting: This meeting is canceled, and the survey originally planned will no longer be sent.
Key lessons learned:
- Residents wanted clarity on the services provided by TVCA versus a potential MSTU to avoid duplication.
- It is important for the County to listen to a wide range of voices in the community, beyond just TVCA.
- There is not broad support for building a recreation center at the Sports Complex.
- There seems to be interest in more long-term planning within the community.
- We recognize that the expedited approach to find a quick solution was not well-received by the community.
We deeply value your continued engagement and support. We encourage you to continue learning about the issues at hand and to work together towards a consensus on what residents want for the future. The County is committed to collaborating with TVCA and all local groups.
As your Community Liaison, I encourage you to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification. We are here to listen and work together for the betterment of Tierra Verde.
Best,
Audrey Ables, MPA
Assistant to the County Administrator
Serving the unincorporated communities in Mid/South County
(727)-543-6429 audreyables@pinellas.gov
Public Engagement Dates
Open House Meetings
- April 8 | 6–8 p.m. Tampa Bay Watch – 3000 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, FL 33715
See meeting summary - April 16 | 6–8 p.m. Tampa Bay Watch – 3000 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, FL 33715. The MSTU proposal and millage rate feedback will no longer be discussed. We will address the ongoing challenges with the enhanced median and sports complex and answer your questions.
- Canceled: April 23 | 6–8 p.m. Zoom Webinar
Office Hours:
County staff will be available at the Tierra Verde Community Association, so stop by anytime during these hours with your questions or feedback. 1275 Pinellas Bayway, 2nd Floor, Tierra Verde, FL 33715
- April 9 | 1 – 7 PM
- April 10 | 9 AM – 5 PM
- April 17 | 1 – 7 PM
- April 18 | 9 AM – 5 PM
Stop by anytime during those hours with your questions or feedback.
For reference, the following information was posted in advance of the first community meeting and feedback:
The Challenge We’re Trying to Address
Historically, the Tierra Verde Community Association (TVCA) has been providing an enhanced level of service through its dues structure to the community. These service levels are above and beyond the standard services provided by the County and the State. Enhanced services include the additional landscaping and maintenance on the state-owned Bayway, paying the Duke Energy bill for street lighting on roads other than the Bayway, maintenance of the Sports Complex and enhanced landscaping and maintenance in the medians of the county-owned roads within the neighborhoods. Recently, however, TVCA decided to scale back its enhanced services and canceled its agreements to maintain the sports complex and Bayway medians in order to focus on its core mission as a homeowners association. (Learn more about the history of the Landscaping, Sports Complex, and the Proposed Rec Center.)
The maintenance of the Bayway will be completely returned to the State for their standard level of service as of June 2027. The Sports Complex, previously maintained by TVCA, could become a passive County park, which would be subject to County park rules. The construction of the recreation center is on hold because there is not an organization to operate it.
Some residents have expressed a desire to keep these enhanced services that were previously provided through TVCA. To fund additional services or amenities beyond the standard level of service, a Tierra Verde Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) could be established, which would allow the community to raise funds specifically for enhanced service levels for Tierra Verde.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an MSTU?
A Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) is a special district established to fund specific services or improvements within a designated area above the core level or standard level of service of what the County provides. When a community in an unincorporated area of Pinellas County would like additional services, the Board of County Commissioners can create an MSTU to add a small amount to the property tax in that area to pay for those additional services. It is included in the annual property tax bill for every property, and 100% is spent in the area where it is raised. An MSTU board, consisting of residents determines the annual budget and how the funds will be used.
How does an MSTU operate?
An MSTU is run by a board consisting of residents within the MSTU area, usually appointed by the Board of County Commissioners in consultation with the community. That board would serve as a nonprofit entity responsible for receiving and utilizing the MSTU funds.
Every year, the MSTU board proposes a budget as a part of the overall Pinellas County budget process. The MSTU budget will be capped by a millage rate in the ordinance that establishes and defines the MSTU. The MSTU can spend money on the services defined by the ordinance and requested by the community through the MSTU board.
The most recently created MSTU in the county is the Seminole Recreation MSTU, which is paying to revitalize and maintain three youth sports complexes. Other successful MSTUs include the Feather Sound Community Services District and the Palm Harbor Community Services District.
If an MSTU were created for Tierra Verde, 100% of the funds would be spent in Tierra Verde.
If an MSTU were created, would the TVCA lower its dues?
The Tierra Verde Community Association could consider lowering its HOA membership dues to offset the reduction in the services it provides. If the TVCA Board informs the County of any decisions regarding its plans, we will provide that information in a future update.
If an MSTU were created, what would its budget be?
If the County Commission creates an MSTU for Tierra Verde, the ordinance would set the maximum millage that could be collected to fund the MSTU’s services. The Board is seeking feedback from the community about whether they want an MSTU, and if so, what budget they would like it to have. Below are examples of different scenarios or options that have been proposed; however, any combination of services or improvements could be considered:
No MSTU option
If the community does not want an MSTU, the County would be responsible for maintaining existing plants, removing any dead plant materials and spraying for weeds on the state-owned Bayway until June 2027, at which time the state would take the entire responsibility for the Bayway median. Enhancements on the County medians would need to continue to be funded by TVCA. The new recreation center would not be built. The Sports Complex would become a passive County Park and the monthly streetlight bill for streets other than the Bayway would presumably continue to be funded by TVCA.
Option 1: Millage rate of 0.3000
This rate would generate an estimated $502,669 per year. It could cover enhanced landscape and maintenance on the medians, operation and maintenance of the current Sports Complex, and paying for the neighborhood street lighting currently paid by TVCA. This level of funding would not be sufficient to operate a recreation center, so that facility would not be built.
- Average homesteaded single-family homeowner cost: $17.75/month
- Average homesteaded condo owner cost: $14.25/month
(All average homeowner and condo owner costs are based on the average taxable value of $760,000 for a home and $620,000 for a condo.)
Option 2: Milage rate of 0.3500
Option two would generate an estimated $586,448. It could cover all of the example expenses in Option 1, plus a part-time employee to support the operation of a recreation center if built.
- Average homesteaded single-family homeowner cost: $20.71/month
- Average homesteaded condo owner cost: $16.63/month
Option 3: Milage rate of 0.4000
Option three would generate an estimated $670,226. It could cover all of the example expenses in Option 1, plus a full-time and a part-time employee support the operation and staffing of a recreation center if built.
- Average homesteaded single-family homeowner cost: $23.67 /month
- Average homesteaded condo owner cost: $19.00/month
Option 4: Milage rate of 0.4550
Option four would generate an estimated $762,382. It could cover all of the example expenses in Option 3 with a full-time and part-time employee to support the operation and staffing of a recreation center, if built, plus $100,000 of funding to support future improvements (pickleball, signage) as determined by the MSTU board.
- Average condo owner cost: $21.61/month
- Average homeowner cost: $26.92 /month
How will the decision be made?
The County will conduct a survey and hold community meetings to hear what residents support. Based on the feedback, the Board of County Commissioners will decide whether to bring an ordinance to a vote.
Why now?
An MSTU can be created at any time; however, it takes time once the ordinance has passed for an MSTU to receive funds and become operational. If the community wants an MSTU that would be operational in fiscal year 2026, it would have to be created by May 20, 2025 to be included in the County’s fiscal year 2026 Budget that begins on October 1, 2025.
This timeframe would provide funding for the MSTU board, once created to begin providing for services to the community in the next fiscal year.
Please join us at community open house meetings or stop by our office hours to learn more and to share your thoughts about what services you would like to see in Tierra Verde.
The County will be conducting a community survey starting mid April. Residents also may email tvmstu@pinellas.gov with questions or comments.