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Pinellas highlights housing investments and tourist‑tax capital proposals; CRA readies projects
Summary
County staff reported $92M invested from the Penny program producing 3,189 units and described the county's leverage of housing programs; the Convention & Visitors Bureau proposed a ~$31.6M two‑pot cap for capital project funding from tourist development tax collections and noted a Toy Town remediation project funded by ARPA/state/TDT; Leelman CRA outlined a plan including land acquisition and infrastructure projects.
A cluster of presentations covered housing investments, tourist‑development tax (TDT) capital proposals and community redevelopment projects.
Greg Mims and housing staff summarized state and federal housing allocations and the Penny for Pinellas affordable‑housing program: the county has invested about $92 million through the penny program supporting 19 projects and producing 3,189 units to date, they said. Staff noted the state housing trust allocation to Pinellas was about $3.4 million and a CDBG allocation near $2.3 million.
At the Convention & Visitors Bureau presentation, staff outlined FY27 adjustments and a proposed capital funding cap. Brian Lowack described an approach that would divide a proposed ~$31.6 million capital pool into two pots (~$15.8 million each) aligned to half‑percent set‑asides in the tourist‑development tax capital side; he said the intent is not to exceed the county’s beach‑nourishment funding priority and to keep capital awards proportional to the TDT collection base. The packet also included one capital project for FY27: Toy Town landfill remediation, to be funded by a mix of ARPA, state appropriations and TDT.
Leelman Community Redevelopment Agency staff (Amy) presented the CRA FY27 plan: revenue is projected to grow and FY27 spending includes capital outlays (~$12.9M) for land acquisition, Joe’s Creek Industrial Park improvements, park upgrades and stormwater projects. Amy said the CRA will deploy grants (residential and commercial) and a refreshed work plan; the CRA also proposed a land‑acquisition authorization (described as a $10M program with $2M initial funding staged to be replenished as spent) to provide flexibility for strategic purchases that support redevelopment.
Commissioners asked for additional detail on metrics (ROI for chambers, TDT allocations relative to beach nourishment priorities) and for more time to review TDC committee feedback. No final awards or capital appropriations were approved in this session; staff will return with additional detail and formal recommendations.
