ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg City Council voted to approve the city's tentative $823.2 million budget during its first reading and public hearing Thursday evening.
It includes a slight millage rate reduction from 6.5250 to 6.4675. Even with that, taxes will increase by 9.34 percent.
Council member Gina Driscoll says it is robust and covers a lot of ground.
"We've been able to reduce the millage rate to save people some money especially with property values rising and at the same time we've been able to use this budget to increase public safety and really get some infrastructure and other work done that people expect from us," Driscoll said.
A public hearing before final adoption by the St. Petersburg City Council is set for 6 p.m. Sept. 28 at city hall.
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Here are some highlights:
- $191.6 million is allocated for public safety. That includes the police and fire departments. More money is planned for EMS. There is an increase in funding for the CALL program. The Community Assistance and Life Liaison program sends community navigators with police officers on nonviolent, noncriminal calls. The city is also continuing to fund the body cameras for police officers.
- $8 million is being set aside for affordable housing. That includes grant programs and money for homeless resources.
- $164 million is going straight to environmental and infrastructure issues. That will fix streets and sidewalks, transportation issues, and refurbish the stormwater system.
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Before the meeting, demonstrators gathered on the steps of city hall to ask that council members allocate funding where residents need it most.
A coalition of groups joined together demanding that more funding go toward areas like affordable housing protecting the environment, infrastructure and public education.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect city leaders approved the tentative version of the budget, with final approval set for later this month.