Pinellas County preserves stormwater culvert funding amid budget rollbacks

Pinellas County preserves stormwater culvert funding amid budget rollbacksFollowing flooding from Hurricane Milton, commissioners rejected a proposed $1.5 million cut to Public Works, prioritizing the rehabilitation of aging box culverts over discretionary social spending.

The board debated a $1.5 million cut to a transportation millage that funds the inspection and maintenance of 60 unclassified box culverts.

Public Works Director Kelly Hammerleavy noted that many culverts date back to the 1970s and require corrective maintenance to address expanding and rusting rebar.

Commissioners cited overwhelmed culverts on Indian Rocks Road and in Seminole during Hurricane Milton as a key reason to maintain the drainage funding.

To achieve a tax rollback without impacting stormwater maintenance, the board opted to cut $667,000 in social action funding and utilize one-time reserves.

The board also approved a $3.79 million contract with Cathcart Construction for wastewater improvements and advanced a $5.34 million grant application for pump station hardening.

Pinellas County Commissioners have opted to protect funding for the maintenance of aging stormwater drainage systems, rejecting proposed budget cuts during their September 10, 2026, hearing for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget. The debate centered on a potential $1.5 million reduction to the county's third transportation millage increment, which would have directly impacted the Public Works department's ability to maintain 60 unclassified box culverts. Public Works Director Kelly Hammerleavy explained that prior to the allocation of this specific funding, the county had no dedicated resources to inspect or maintain these culverts, many of which were installed in the 1970s. "We're finding that the rebar is expanding and rusting," Hammerleavy told the board, noting that corrective maintenance can extend the life of the infrastructure by 15 to 25 years. If the funding were cut, she warned, the department would be forced to defer maintenance, potentially leading to more expensive reconstruction projects in the future. The importance of the culverts was underscored by recent flooding events. Commissioner Kathleen Peters pointed out that overwhelmed culverts contributed to significant flooding in non-flood risk areas during Hurricane Milton. Hammerleavy confirmed that four culverts on Indian Rocks Road were overwhelmed by the volume of water during the storm and are now scheduled for replacement. Aging culverts under Park Boulevard in Seminole were also cited as critical infrastructure requiring attention. Calling the drainage systems a "core function of government," Peters refused to support the millage reduction if it meant compromising flood control. "I'm not prepared to lose core functions of government at this time," she stated. To achieve a property tax millage rollback without sacrificing the stormwater funding, the board ultimately voted to eliminate $667,000 in discretionary social action funding, covering the remaining difference with one-time reserves. In other water-related business, the board unanimously approved a $3,795,860 contract with Cathcart Construction Company - Florida, LLC for the Philippe Park Wastewater Collection System improvements. The project will replace four onsite septic systems with approximately 2,800 linear feet of force main and four pumping stations. Commissioners also authorized a revised $5,343,273 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program application to the Florida Division of Emergency Management for the North Booster Pump Station Hardening project, which was rescoped following damage from Hurricane Milton.