Lobbyist warns Fort Pierce commissioners that 2026 property-tax proposals could cut local revenue

Ryan Matthews, government affairs and lobbying deputy section chair at Grey Robinson, told the Fort Pierce City Commission on Aug. 11 that while the 2025 Florida legislative session returned some appropriations to Fort Pierce, the larger political fight in Tallahassee could pose a near-term threat to local government revenue sources.

Matthews said the city secured two line‑item appropriations this year — funding for Thirteenth Street and police department support — but that the 2025 session overall was unusual and prolonged. He described a 105‑day session, friction between the governor and the legislature, and a number of high‑profile bills that failed or were vetoed. “We had 1,959 bills filed, only 269 passed,” Matthews said in his presentation, adding that “there were 2,550 appropriations in the Senate” and that the final budget contained significant…