Florida Construction News staff writer
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor presented the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget to city council last week, highlighting five key strategies:
Maintaining and improving infrastructure
Strengthening services for residents
Enhancing workforce development
Improving housing affordability
Focusing on sustainability and resilience
“Between 2019 and 2023 we saw a nearly 40 per cent increase in cost for many of the goods and services that we purchase,” she said. “The good news: Tampa’s economy is strong. Our inflation is now a low 1.8%…I’m extremely proud of our staff for thinking creatively about how to accomplish more with less.”
The budget includes funding to build new and renovate existing fire stations, increase housing, plans to install solar panels on public buildings, transition some city fleets to electric vehicles, and address heat vulnerability.
“When it comes to infrastructure, we have two jobs as city government – to maintain what we have and to build what we need,” Castor said. “Both are equally important and must be done concurrently.”
