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Emergency management seeks state and federal mitigation dollars; highlights shelter and mitigation needs
Summary
Emergency management staff asked commissioners to note a small FY27 operating reduction and highlighted $6 million in pending state mitigation funding and $2.6 million in a federal appropriation being sought for shelter hardening and mitigation projects; department emphasized readiness, redundancy and outreach gains from recent hurricane events.
Emergency Management staff summarized a small FY27 reduction while flagging larger mitigation funding opportunities pending at the state and federal level.
Tony Merrill, OMB analyst for emergency management, reminded the board that the department is 100% general fund with 16 FTEs and outlined FY27 changes: a modest operating decrease pegged to retirements and replacement hires, deferred computer replacement and lower contractual services. Merrill noted the department requested no decision packages.
Kathy Perkins, Emergency Management director, described three statutorily required priorities: maintaining critical capabilities (including an emergency operations center), sustaining partner and community service and retaining qualified personnel. Perkins highlighted technology and process improvements — for example, the Acela program that halved healthcare facility review times and increased revenue — and cited outreach successes (about 600 attendees at one Clearwater preparedness event).
Perkins said the department is seeking broader mitigation support: she noted a state budget allocation of roughly $6,000,000 that the county hopes the governor will approve and a federal appropriation request for about $2,600,000. She said some funds would address aging generators at special‑needs shelters and support mitigation projects funded by Penny for Pinellas and supplemented by state and federal grants.
Commissioners praised partnerships and asked technical questions about systems such as the former MNET and badging for the emergency operations center. Perkins and Merrill responded with operational detail and described how outreach and partnerships extend the county’s preparedness reach without major service cuts.
Next steps: commissioners invited staff to continue monitoring state and federal appropriations and to provide materials about planned mitigation projects as funding clarity emerges.
