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Oldsmar Council approves $2.8 million in FEMA advance funding and large budget revision after storms
Summary
City council adopted a major midyear budget revision that recognizes FEMA advance funding and covers hurricane-related emergency purchases, generator rental and repairs to water/wastewater facilities.
The Oldsmar City Council on Feb. 18 adopted a large midyear budget revision that recognizes $2,833,720 in advanced FEMA funding for emergency debris removal and adds multiple appropriations to repair storm-damaged city facilities.
The change matters because it funnels federal disaster advances into immediate cleanup and repairs and authorizes spending on generator rentals, building mitigation and other hurricane-related costs that city staff said were needed to restore services.
Council adopted Resolution 2025-03 to revise the fiscal year 2024–25 budget across the general fund, water and sewer operating fund and solid waste fund. City staff told the council the revision recognizes an advanced FEMA deposit of $2,833,720 to cover emergency debris collection and monitoring and requests specific allocations including $457,000 for the WRF (water reclamation facility) to fund rental and purchase/installation of a permanent emergency generator.
City staff summarized emergency procurements completed after recent hurricanes. Contracts and purchase orders issued included: a continuing contract to Tetra Tech, Inc. for disaster recovery management consulting (initial PO $31,209.80); emergency code and substantial-damage services from MT Causeley LLC (POs originally $25,000, reduced to $5,000 each after county/state support became available); Servpro mitigation services for water/mold damage to the WRF distribution and collection building (PO $43,753.27); and West Coast Demolition for initial emergency debris collection (PO $50,000). Council ratified those emergency purchases under the city’s procurement rules for declared emergencies.
Council discussion highlighted staff work to submit an expedited FEMA request. Council member McGahn said staff’s effort had produced early results: “to get $2,800,000 already back,” and praised the team’s work to secure advance funding. Council voted to adopt the budget revision; Mayor Czeraki called the motion and the council approved the resolution by voice vote.
The budget revision also reallocated contingency reserves to cover insurance, parks repairs and other hurricane-related costs; it added $30,000 to cover a general liability deductible invoice from FMIT in the parks division and included public-safety requests such as $175,000 to refurbish an aerial truck to avoid purchasing a new engine in FY28.
Staff emphasized that some expenditures are intended to avoid higher future capital costs (for example, refurbishing an aerial truck) and that several purchases are ongoing as FEMA and state programs continue to evolve. The resolution took effect immediately upon passage.
Looking ahead, staff said they would present additional debris management and monitoring purchases to council for ratification and would continue to pursue FEMA reimbursement and project work as eligible.
