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NewsWUSF (NPR Tampa Bay)September 14, 2026Hillsborough County

Pinellas Commissioners Vote to Maintain Funding for Weedon Island and Shell Key Preserves

Photo: WUSF (NPR Tampa Bay)

Pinellas commissioners voted in a first reading Monday to maintain $555,000 in funding for the Weedon Island and Shell Key preserves and keep the Cultural and Natural History Center open using funds originally allocated for future bond payments on a new county administrative campus. The board also approved a $5.14 billion budget featuring a lower general fund property tax rate of 4.4989 mills and agreed to extend Social Action fund support of $667,000 for one more year using reserve money. A second reading and public hearing are scheduled for Sept. 24.

Budget & AppropriationsParks and RecreationProperty TaxesCounty Government
Read the full story at WUSF (NPR Tampa Bay)

Why It Matters

County residents retain local nature preserve funding and services alongside a general fund property tax rate set at 4.4989 .

Key Facts

Each fact below is taken from the article. Click one to see the exact passage.

Who's Mentioned

PersonRene Flowers“Commissioner who proposed extending funding for the Social Action fund.”locationWeedon Island“State-owned preserve managed by Pinellas County.”PersonChris Rose“Provided figures regarding the funding restoration for the preserves.”locationShell Key“State-owned preserve managed by Pinellas County.”OrganizationPinellas County“Local government body voting on the budget and preserve funding.”