Eastlake Community Library and East Lake Recreation presented preliminary FY2026 budgets and multi‑year capital plans in a combined briefing to Pinellas County commissioners.

Library: Lois (executive director) described a capital campaign and building expansion tied to a county commitment of $4.5 million (Penny for Pinellas funding previously earmarked) and a three‑year private fundraising goal of $1.5 million. The library reported high usage: roughly 8,000 monthly checkouts and more than 5,000 program attendees since October. The library highlighted revenue‑generating services — passports and fingerprinting for background checks — and new fundraising events; Lois said the library has some private foundation reserves and expects state construction grant support historically. "Our goal is to raise $1.5 million in the next three years," she said, describing plans for expanded children's space, study areas and a larger computer lab. Library staff noted inflationary construction costs and necessary infrastructure upgrades (for example, fire suppression) that increase the capital scope and cost estimates.

Recreation: Mark Sanders, East Lake Recreation director, outlined youth sports participation and field use: about 3,000 youth participate annually and annual attendance estimates range between 200,000 and 300,000. Sanders described recent infrastructure improvements (irrigation, LED lighting, dugouts) and proposed developing the Meadows site to add fields, parking and potentially free up space at the main complex for additional amenities. The Meadows expansion concept includes additional parking and new fields to move soccer and some youth sports away from the main complex, with a vision to add shade structures and more facilities.

Budget and next steps: Both entities noted fundraising, grant and reserve balances that will be combined with county capital and operating support. Eastlake library described a multi‑partner capital campaign organizational structure with a foundation for donations and cited prior state appropriations that supported the site in prior years. East Lake Recreation said it continues to operate with constrained staffing and is seeking capital to add a community building and restroom facilities for staff and users.

Ending: Commissioners praised volunteer boards and staff for program delivery and requested continued updates as fundraising and design work proceed; no formal county action was taken at the meeting.