Pinellas County outlines how Tierra Verde property taxes are spent, details bridge projects and park funding

Pinellas County officials on a virtual briefing for Tierra Verde residents explained how local property taxes are allocated, described county and unincorporated services paid for by those taxes, and detailed planned capital work in the community, including two bridge replacements.

Commissioner Kathleen Peters opened the meeting by saying the briefing responded to residents’ requests for clearer budget information. Audrey Abels, the Pinellas County community coordinator for Tierra Verde, led the presentation and Q&A, and County Administrator Barry Burton and Office of Management and Budget Director Chris Rose answered technical questions.

Abels said Tierra Verde residents pay $28,900,000 in property taxes and that “only 58% of that is under the control of the Board of County Commissioners.” She walked through how that total is distributed: $16,800,000 to Pinellas County, $10,200,000 to the school board, $1,400,000 to the juvenile welfare board, and $336,000 to the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Of the county share, Abels listed seven taxing components and their fiscal allocations, including a $8,100,000 general fund share; a $3,600,000 unincorporated municipal service taxing unit (MSTU); $2,600,000 for the Tierra Verde fire district; $881,000 for library services; $1,400,000 for emergency medical services; $125,000 for the health department; and $35,000 for the Pinellas Planning Council.

Abels used a “$1” example to show how the county general fund is spent: 42¢ to support the sheriff’s operations (including jail and personnel), 24¢ for general government (with 3¢ for redevelopment and 2¢ for technology), 17¢ to reserves, 7¢…