Pinellas County commissioners signaled they will not let Weedon Island and Shell Key preserves lose county funding, pushing back sharply at their Wednesday, Aug. 12 budget meeting against a proposal that would also end lifeguard services at Sand Key park.

Commissioner Vince Nowicki told the Tampa Bay Beacons he is "100% opposed" to the cuts and said no elected commissioner asked for them. "In no meeting did a county commissioner say 'cut this' or 'put it on the block,'" Nowicki said in an interview published Aug. 11.

No commissioner supported the cuts.

The proposal, part of County Administrator Barry Burton's recommended $5.137 billion FY2027 budget, would return both state-owned preserves to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection effective Jan. 1, 2027, saving $474,000 and eliminating 7.7 positions. A separate line item would end seasonal lifeguard programs at Fort De Soto and Sand Key parks, cutting $374,000 and 25 part-time jobs. Together, the parks reductions total roughly $848,000.

Burton presented the budget to commissioners on Wednesday, Aug. 12, as the General Fund faces a deficit of more than $30 million driven by state-imposed unfunded mandates, reduced sales tax revenue and inflation. In an Aug. 7 interview with the St. Pete Catalyst, Commissioner Brian Scott pegged the state mandate burden at $12 million for FY2027 alone.

Multiple commissioners object

At the Aug. 12 meeting, Commissioner Rene Flowers argued the county should keep funding both preserves and explore having the state compensate Pinellas for managing the properties, according to meeting coverage from the St. Pete Catalyst. Commissioner Kathleen Peters said the county should at minimum continue funding until Florida's state fiscal year begins in July 2027. Commission Chair Dave Eggers said the board's intention is "not to get rid of that responsibility" but to figure out how to go about it.

Nowicki also floated asking the state to transfer ownership of the preserves to the county outright.

What the cuts would mean

Pinellas County has managed Weedon Island and Shell Key under a state lease since 1995. The two preserves span nearly 5,000 acres. Weedon Island draws close to 1 million visitors a year and holds significant Native American history; Shell Key is one of Florida's most important shorebird nesting sites.

Bill Fehring, president of Friends of Weedon Island, warned in an Aug. 11 WTSP report that no state agency is positioned to take over and that the preserve would likely have to close, at least temporarily. Separately, Fehring told the Tampa Bay Beacons he worries all educational programs at Weedon Island would end if the county walks away.

Aron Bryce, founder and president of the Stronger Together St. Pete Foundation, said his strong preference is for the county to continue managing both preserves while working with the state on a more sustainable funding partnership. "If that ultimately isn't possible, any transition must include strong protections for conservation, public access, and long-term stewardship," Bryce said. "These places took generations to protect, and we have a responsibility to preserve them for the next generation."

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection had not responded to requests for comment as of Aug. 11.

For Clearwater-area beachgoers, the lifeguard elimination hits Sand Key directly. Burton acknowledged the program is chronically understaffed, noting that "no lifeguard on duty" signs are already posted most of the time because the county cannot fill the positions.

What's next

The proposed budget holds the countywide General Fund millage rate steady at 4.5423 mills and includes a 3% salary increase for county workers. Parking fees at county parks would jump from $6 per day to $3.50 per hour.

Budget workshops are set for Aug. 20 and Sept. 3. Public hearings on the final budget take place Sept. 10 and Sept. 24. The fiscal year begins Oct. 1. Residents can attend those hearings to weigh in on the preserve and lifeguard proposals before commissioners vote.