St. Pete Beach presents preliminary 2026 budget with $3.2 million parking transfer, fee study and reprioritized capital projects

Devin Schmidt, finance director for the City of St. Pete Beach, presented the city's preliminary 2026 budget at a July workshop, saying staff would concentrate on operating and personnel numbers while returning capital project details from prior workshops.

"We're gonna focus primarily on our operating personnel revenues since we've already spent two workshops on our capital projects," Schmidt said, summarizing the meeting's scope and the review process that began in April and included the finance budget review committee.

The budget staff set several assumptions and follow‑ups for the commission. Ad valorem receipts are currently estimated at about $15.1 million after applying a 4% early‑payment discount, based on staff's finding that roughly 70% of taxpayers pay in November to claim that discount. Staff noted roughly 91 potentially vacant properties that could affect collections. The budget assumes roughly $2.6 million in insurance recoveries and an expected $4 million in FEMA Category A/B debris reimbursements arriving within 12–18 months; those recoveries are planned to be transferred into capital projects.

A new parking fund created for 2026 is projected to transfer $3.2 million to the general fund to help cover streets, beaches, parks and a portion of public safety…