ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg City Council members unanimously passed a tentative budget Thursday night.

Residents got to weigh in on the $902 million spending plan, and the half-dozen speakers all said they think it falls short when it comes to programs for kids and teens.

What You Need To Know

  •  The St. Petersburg City Council approved the first reading of the proposed fiscal year 2025 budget

  •  The council also held a public hearing on the $902 million spending plan

  •  A half dozen residents told council members they didn't think the budget does enough to fund youth programs

  • Council members expressed frustration that the same group has been requesting funding for two years and have struggled to see results

"This is so important because not only is it dealing with the youth, it is also dealing with my community, where I live and work," said Keesha Brundridge King, who lives in the city's Child's Park neighborhood. "I see every day as I wake up in the morning to get my child to school, hoping that he's safe and he'll return back to me. I'm looking every day at the rec center and the programs that we consistently are fighting for that we don't have."

Brundridge King was one of a handful of members from the group Dream Defenders who told council during the first public hearing on the budget that such programs are key to curbing youth violence and the tentative budget doesn't do enough to support them.

The group made the same case at a budget open house in April. University of South Florida student Nathan Tout-Puissant was there, too, and has asked the council to consider spending $4 million during a five year period to create his Fund Our Futures after-school program in Child's Park.

"Time and again, I've heard that there is a need for these programs in Child's Park," Tout-Puissant said. "And every person I've spoken to approaches the same consensus. Yet, there is little to no tangible action that we can see."

Councilmember Brandi Gabbard asked if anyone from the city had met with members from the group, and interim Chief Equity Officer Carl R. Lavender, Jr. said he had. 

"I assured them — we agreed that there'll be other meetings to talk about what we can do together," Lavender said. "The initial request of about $4 million is up for much considerable debate, if you will, but nevertheless, yes, we have met. We've chatted for a few minutes and looking forward to meeting again."

A few council members pointed out that Thursday's meeting was not the first time the group has made its case.

"I'm going to express some frustration," said Councilmember John Muhammad. "When they were coming last year, they were informed, 'You're too late in the process. Get in the process earlier.' So, they began in January — scheduling times, having conversations, having meetings."

Muhammad said it seems those conversations are lacking follow-up.

"It's becoming the symbolic, 'Yeah, we met with them, we talked with them, and we're scheduling another meeting,'" he said. "And so now, here we are in year two, scheduling another meeting, and it's very unfortunate."

Muhammad noted that Lavender, who was named to his position in November, wasn't involved in that first round of talks. 

Council Chair Deborah Figgs-Sanders said other organizations have had similar challenges seeking funding.

She suggested coming up with a process to ask other departments to find money in their budgets for initiatives proposed by local groups that are approved by council. Other members encouraged advocates to reach out to them one-on-one, which could help their cause get listed as a budget priority for the following year. 

Brundridge King and Tout-Puissant said they're not giving up hope.

"Because of where we're at in the process, it's not going to be the easiest ask, but I do extend that hope that we can at least get something within this upcoming fiscal budget," Tout-Puissant said.

A second budget public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. in council chambers.