Participation encouraged with May 14 City Budget Open House

ST. PETERSBURG – Citizens are encouraged to discover how city leaders create an annual city budget and learn next year’s spending priorities during the FY2019 City Budget Open House Monday, May 14 at 6 p.m.

This year’s open house will be held at the Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N, and allow citizens one-on-one access with Mayor Rick Kriseman, City Administrator Dr. Kanika Tomalin, City Council members and senior administrators. Staff from City Development, Public Works, Public Safety, Neighborhood Affairs, Leisure Services, and General Government will also be available to answer citizen questions from 6-6:30 p.m.

Following the breakout session, Budget Director Liz Makofske will present an overview of the budget process and explain city spending priorities. Citizens will then have an opportunity to comment before City Council members share their thoughts on the proposed budget.

A representative from the Pinellas County Appraiser’s Office will also be present to explain and answer questions on Amendment 1, the 3rd Homestead Exemption, which will be on the Nov. 6 ballot. Amendment 1 proposes an additional homestead exemption for qualifying homeowners.

Through May 31, citizens are encouraged to participate in the budget process by sharing their spending priorities by administrative function at https://bit.ly/2HEa7cl or www.stpete.org/budget.

The Budget Open House will be rebroadcast on StPeteTV, Spectrum Channel 641), WOW! Channel 15 and Frontier Channel 20 and on the city’s YouTube channel.

City Council will consider the FY2019 budget for adoption during hearings Sept. 6 and 20 at City Hall, 175 Fifth St. N. For more information about the FY2019 budget, visit www.stpete.org/budget.