Clearwater City Manager lays out post-storm recovery, $87 million in damages and priorities for 2026

City Manager Jennifer Poyer presented Clearwater's annual State of the City report at the Nov. 6 City Council meeting, detailing the city's financial position, post-storm recovery work and priorities for the upcoming year.

Poyer said Clearwater's general fund posted $218.9 million in revenues and $232.9 million in expenses in the last fiscal year; the city's millage rate remained at 5.885 mills. She reported an unrestricted general fund balance of $67.4 million as of Sept. 30, equal to about 30% of the fiscal 2026 budgeted expenditures.

The presentation addressed storm damage and cost-recovery work. "Last year, we had 3 storms and incurred an estimated $87,000,000 in damages to city properties, rights of way, and infrastructure," Poyer said. She outlined the FEMA process: 391 FEMA-eligible line items for city assets and 130 FEMA projects, of which 18 projects are approved, 41 are under FEMA review…