St. Petersburg council sets millage at 6.4525 mills and adopts tentative FY2026 budget after debate over youth programs, stormwater and fire funding

St. Petersburg City Council on Sept. 11, 2025, approved a proposed millage rate of 6.4525 mills and adopted the mayor’s recommended fiscal year 2026 budget as the tentative budget after a public hearing and extended council discussion. The council adopted the millage unanimously; the motions to pass the budget ordinance on first reading and to adopt the tentative budget each passed 5–2.

The tentative budget will serve as the city’s working FY2026 budget pending a final public hearing and second reading on Sept. 25, 2025. City budget staff said the recommended plan totals roughly $967 million in operating resources, with total general fund requirements of $411,763,000. Budget staff described the 6.4525‑mill rate as a 3.93 percent increase over the rollback rate of 6.2083 mills; staff said the change reflects growth in taxable value and is intended to fund city priorities including wage increases for all city employees, continued funding for police and Fire Rescue, stormwater and other capital investments.

Why it matters: The millage and tentative budget allocate property‑tax revenue and other city receipts across public safety, infrastructure, neighborhood programs and resilience work. Budget materials and staff presentations said key investments would continue under the mayor’s five pillars (education and youth; equitable economic development…