St. Petersburg council approves FY25–FY26 budget cleanup ordinance in second reading

The St. Petersburg City Council on second reading adopted Ordinance 6 21 h, a year‑end appropriations and FY25–FY26 cleanup ordinance that the city said will reduce the general fund balance by an estimated $14,429,000.

Liz Makoski, the city’s finance presenter, summarized changes since the first reading, saying the beginning FY25 general fund balance was $84,769,000 and that the FY25 cleanup entries will use about $4,215,000 of that balance. She said the FY26 items in the ordinance would use an additional $10,214,000 and that the estimated FY26 ending general fund balance would be $70,340,000.

Makoski told the council revenues had increased roughly $1.5 million since first reading, “and the majority of this increase was in our grants category,” helping narrow the anticipated FY25 drawdown. She noted additional expenditures related to hurricanes Helene and Milton and said about $11.5 million in FY26 supplemental appropriations and rollover requests are included in the ordinance.

The presentation listed department‑level changes: decreased amounts needed for engineering, capital improvement and fire rescue since first reading; increases in EMS, water resources debt and the stormwater utility fund; and a reduction in the airport fund. Makoski said four funds changed amounts since first reading and that 40 funds have encumbrances rolling into FY26 that will become actuals next fiscal year.

Council members asked for clarifications about rescissions, rollovers and where specific supplemental appropriations appear in the backup materials. Makoski referenced the ordinance backup (section and page numbers) for detailed line items and explained that some requests reflect timing differences or grant year misalignment rather than new programmatic spending.

After the presentation and public comment, the council voted to approve the ordinance. The clerk announced the motion to approve agenda item D1 passed unanimously with Council Member Harding absent.

The ordinance will take effect as required by the city’s ordinance rules; staff noted supplemental appropriation details and project name updates are recorded in the meeting backup materials.