Pinellas County commissioners are re‑examining the Social Action Funding program that distributes county grants to nonprofit organizations providing community services. Commissioner Chris Latvala introduced a plan to dramatically reduce the program’s budget for fiscal year 2027, arguing that residents deserve tax relief and that many charities can secure funding from state sources or private fundraising.
Proposed budget changes
An advisory board initially recommended $1.7 million for 17 nonprofit groups. County Administrator Barry Burton suggested trimming that amount to roughly $667,000 for seven existing programs and eliminating funding for proposed new initiatives. Latvala’s proposal goes further, calling for the county to stop financing the grant program altogether after a one‑year transition period.
One‑year notice for current recipients
“Our residents demand tax relief, so any way we can do that I think is prudent,” Latvala told the St. Pete Catalyst. He added that while many nonprofits perform valuable work, they should be able to obtain money from the Florida Legislature or private donors. Under the plan, the county would use reserve funds to keep current grant recipients afloat for one additional year, giving them time to find alternative revenue streams before county support ends.
Impact on contracts and services
The proposal does not automatically terminate county contracts with nonprofits that provide specific services. For example, a five‑year, up‑to‑$7.26 million agreement with 211 Tampa Bay Cares (doing business as First Contact) to administer emergency financial assistance for adults without minor children remains in the proposed budget. Likewise, nearly $4 million in three‑year contracts with St. Vincent de Paul CARES and 211 Tampa Bay Cares for rapid rehousing and case management are slated to continue.
Scrutiny of potential duplication
Latvala indicated that commissioners will review whether the county is paying multiple organizations for overlapping services. “If we have five or six programs attacking homelessness issues, then that’s something we have to look at. We don’t need a number of organizations doing the same thing,” he said, noting that Commissioners Scott and Eggers have raised concerns about duplicated efforts.
Fiscal context
Pinellas County is drafting a $5.14 billion budget for fiscal year 2027. The General Fund would rise modestly from $1.116 billion to $1.125 billion. Within that framework, the Social Action Funding program is a small but visible line item that has drawn attention from taxpayers seeking lower property taxes.
Community response
Supporters of the grant program argue that the funding helps seniors, children, and other vulnerable residents. Critics, including Latvala, contend that the county should focus its limited resources on core services and let the state and private sector shoulder more of the nonprofit burden.
The commission will continue to discuss the proposal in upcoming budget work sessions, with a final decision expected later this fall.
Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.
