Local Government
Local Government
Latest reporting from the Local Government desk.
Local Government
Latest reporting from the Local Government desk.
Local Government
Latest reporting from the Local Government desk.
Local Government
BayCare reports $5.1 billion economic impact in Pinellas County
A study commissioned by Clearwater-based BayCare Health System finds the health system generates $5.1 billion annually for the Pinellas County economy, with $6.6 billion in capital projects planned through 2030.
Local Government
Clearwater tap water switches to chlorine Sept. 21
Pinellas County Utilities will switch Clearwater's water disinfection from chloramine to chlorine from Sept. 21 through Oct. 10, which may change the taste and smell of tap water but poses no health risk to the general population.
Local Government
Clearwater Seat 5 runoff pits Scientology critic against Wilson
Local Government
Clearwater locks in 30-year Duke deal as St. Pete eyes exit
Local Government
BayCare reports $5.1 billion economic impact in Pinellas County
A study commissioned by Clearwater-based BayCare Health System finds the health system generates $5.1 billion annually for the Pinellas County economy, with $6.6 billion in capital projects planned through 2030.
Local Government
Clearwater tap water switches to chlorine Sept. 21
Local Government
Pinellas County water and sewer rates rise Oct. 1
Local Government
Clearwater Seat 5 runoff pits Scientology critic against Wilson
Local Government
BayCare reports $5.1 billion economic impact in Pinellas County
A study commissioned by Clearwater-based BayCare Health System finds the health system generates $5.1 billion annually for the Pinellas County economy, with $6.6 billion in capital projects planned through 2030.
Local Government
Clearwater tap water switches to chlorine Sept. 21
Local Government
Pinellas County water and sewer rates rise Oct. 1
Local Government
Clearwater Seat 5 runoff pits Scientology critic against Wilson
Local Government
Clearwater locks in 30-year Duke deal as St. Pete eyes exit
Local Government
Clearwater council to review $12 million in potential budget cuts at Aug. 11 work session
Clearwater's City Council will hold a special budget work session on Tuesday, Aug. 11, to review specific service-cut scenarios tied to Amendment 3's potential $12 million first-year hit to the general fund, giving residents a chance to see what's at stake before the November ballot.
Local Government
Clearwater Beach restaurants raise $5,000 for marine aquarium through cup sales
Three Clearwater Beach restaurants owned by Beachside Hospitality Group donated $5,000 to Clearwater Marine Aquarium after selling Chubby Mermaid cups at $1 per cup toward conservation, part of a $15,000 companywide marine fundraiser.
Local Government
Clearwater Main Library adds free weekly Mahjong nights to fourth-floor lineup
The Clearwater Main Library launched a free weekly American Mahjong program every Thursday in its fourth-floor Heritage Studio, open to anyone 16 and older, with sets provided for up to six simultaneous games.
Local Government
Clearwater solar group-buying program offers 24% discount ahead of Sept. 2 deadline
Clearwater residents have until Sept. 2 to enroll in the city-partnered Switch Together solar group-buying program and save an average of $7,475 on rooftop solar installation. Separately, Clearwater Police are ramping up traffic enforcement on high-crash state roads through March 2027.
Local Government
Clearwater Executive Airport breaks ground on $13.7 million terminal to replace decades-old trailer
Clearwater broke ground July 17 on a $13.7 million terminal at Clearwater Executive Airport that will replace a decades-old double-wide trailer with an 18,000-square-foot facility housing a flight school, pilot lounge and FlyUSA's corporate headquarters, with completion targeted for August 2027.
Local Government
Clearwater council unanimously picks Owen Kohler as permanent city attorney
The Clearwater City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday to select Owen Kohler, 49, as the city's permanent city attorney after a search that drew four finalists, though a final vote on his employment agreement is still ahead.
Local Government
Clearwater's Habitat for Humanity affiliate ranks No. 2 on Florida's best midsize workplaces list
Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside, headquartered in Clearwater, earned the No. 2 ranking among midsize companies on Florida Trend's 2026 Best Companies To Work For list, capping a stretch of rapid growth under CEO Mike Sutton that has pushed annual home production past 80 units.
Local Government
Scientology breaks ground on L. Ron Hubbard Hall as petition, council election approach
The Church of Scientology broke ground Aug. 1 on the $250 million L. Ron Hubbard Hall in downtown Clearwater, while Save the Garden races to collect 7,000 signatures by Sept. 16 to force a voter referendum on the no-cost street transfer that made the project possible and the Aug. 18 council election approaches with the transfer as the defining issue.
Local Government
New law will show Pinellas homebuyers what they'll actually owe in property taxes
A new Florida law signed June 29 will require home listing platforms to show property tax estimates based on the listing price rather than the seller's lower bill starting Feb. 1, 2027. Pinellas County Property Appraiser Mike Twitty helped lead the multi-session legislative effort.
Local Government
Clearwater eyes mixed-use redevelopment for historic North Ward School
Clearwater officials unveiled a mixed-use redevelopment concept for the historic North Ward Elementary School at a July 30 community open house, with a formal developer solicitation expected within the next couple of months.
Local Government
Judge clears SPCA Tampa Bay in Waddles the pig cruelty case
A Pinellas County judge found SPCA Tampa Bay not guilty of animal cruelty in the case of Waddles the pig, criticizing the county's investigation and vindicating the nonprofit after a year-long legal fight.
Local Government
State budget steers $43 million in beach nourishment funding to Pinellas County
Florida's 2026-27 state budget directs $43 million in beach nourishment funding to Pinellas County and preserves the Tourist Development Tax that funds local tourism marketing, delivering three legislative wins the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce lobbied for during the 2026 session.
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©2026 Clearwater Sentinel
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©2026 Clearwater Sentinel
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