Pinellas County officials discuss using tourism tax revenue to address budget deficits

Residents may face higher fees for public amenities like parking and boat ramps as the county attempts to address a $30 million budget deficit, while the potential passage of Amendment 3 could further reduce local government revenue.

• •Pinellas County faces a General Fund deficit of more than $30 million for the 2027 fiscal year.
• •County administrators proposed increasing fees for parking, boat ramps, and annual passes to generate an estimated $2.77 million annually.
• •The county is considering a $15 daily cap on proposed hourly parking rates at public facilities like Fort De Soto.
• •Amendment 3, if passed, would increase property tax exemptions and reduce the annual assessment cap on non-homestead property from 10% to 5%.
• •St. Petersburg estimates Amendment 3 could reduce its General Fund revenue by $33 million in 2028 and $21 million in 2029.
• •Pinellas County collected $8.6 million in tourist development taxes in June, a 15% increase over the previous year.
• •Total tourist development tax collections for the fiscal year through June reached $79.8 million.
• •The current tourist development tax rate on short-term lodging is 6%.