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Forward Pinellas outlines FY 2026 UPC budget draft; board questions $1.9 million reserve for regional MPO startup
Summary
Staff presented a FY 2026 draft budget that reduces the millage rate and proposes reserves including a $1.9 million line item earmarked as the Pinellas share of potential regional MPO start-up costs; board members asked staff to consider lowering the reserve and to provide alternative scenarios.
Forward Pinellas staff presented a draft FY 2026 Unified Planning Council budget at the June 9 meeting that proposes lowering the millage rate, restructuring reserve accounts, and setting aside approximately $1.9 million as a reserve for potential start-up costs tied to a possible regional MPO reorganization.
The presentation matters because the planning council’s millage and reserves fund planning services to Pinellas County cities and coordinate transportation and land-use studies. The reserve decisions could affect future operating flexibility and whether the agency is prepared for potential governance changes from an MPO consolidation process.
Rodney Chapman, Division Manager, briefed the board on the multi-phase budget process and noted several variables not yet finalized, including unified personnel system salary adjustments. Chapman said staff propose reducing the millage rate from 0.020 to 0.0175 and separating the reserve line into three statutorily consistent accounts: a contingency reserve (~$700,000), a fund-balance reserve (~$800,000), and a reserve for future years (~$1,900,000). He explained the $1.9 million figure represented the Pinellas share of potential start-up costs for a new independent regional MPO and was a placeholder based on prior feasibility estimates.
Chapman summarized planned technical-assistance items and carryovers into FY 2026: completing the multimodal impact-fee ordinance update (carryover ~$184,000), $50,000 for code amendments to support housing affordability, $150,000 to work with communities to attract higher-wage employers, and $50,000 as local match for a safety grant.
Board members raised concerns. Commissioner Scherer asked about the size of the reserve; Commissioner Share (transcript: Commissioner Scott?) described the roughly $1 million increase in reserves as “heavy” and requested consideration of lowering it because it may fund merger costs that are not certain. Council member Richie Floyd said he was wary of optimistic revenue assumptions and urged stress testing given recent declines in taxing-base returns. Chapman and Executive Director Whit Blanton responded that the $1.9 million is a placeholder tied to prior estimates from a 2023 feasibility report and that the consultant process and governing decisions over the coming year should clarify whether the funds will be needed; staff also agreed to provide scenarios showing the millage impact if the reserve were reduced.
Next steps: staff will present a detailed budget spreadsheet at the July meeting and present the Forward Pinellas recommendation to the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, which will act on the rate at public hearings in September. Staff will also provide scenario analysis on the millage rate impact if the $1.9 million reserve is removed or phased in.
