09.16.2025

From our friends at

91º | 20% chance of precipitation

Sunrise 7:15 a.m. | Sunset 7:33 p.m.

Tides | Old Tampa Bay | High: 10:14 a.m. | Low: 7:07 p.m.

Clearwater Beach | High: 7:10 a.m. + 11:16 p.m. | Low: 3:21 p.m.

Full Weather Report | Traffic Report

Where are your tax dollars going?

St. Pete's waterfront. Palm trees line the water, with condo towers and high rises in the distance, with their reflections visible in the water. The sky is mostly blue with some clouds dotted around. Boats are in the marina.

Some $260,000 will be spent on the city’s Childhood Homelessness Project. | Photo via Canva

You know what they say, double the city, double the fun. Okay, no one says that.

Anyway, there’s a lot of news to follow in both Tampa + St. Pete. No worries, as usual, we’re breaking it down for you:

St. Pete’s $1.18 billion budget

So, what’s the latest with the Burg’s budget? Late last week, St. Pete City Council approved the tentative fiscal year 2026 budget, the St. Pete Catalyst reports.

Highlights of the prospective budget includes:

An a 3.93% increase in property taxes
$47.26 million on stormwater operations
$650,000 for the Complete Streets program

Tampa transportation upgrades

The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners recently transferred $13 million to Tampa to beef up 13 city intersections, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Where at? Here’s a few of the greatest hits:

Howard Avenue at Cypress Street
Manhattan Avenue at Bay to Bay Boulevard

Mucking out Jungle Lake

Truly. The Jungle Lake Restoration Plan is well underway after two recent sewage spills.

The 10-acre lake — which sits in the middle of the bustling Walter Fuller Park — essentially serves as a retention pond for the surrounding 470 acres.

What's the money going toward?

Asked

What’s the other big ticket item in the budget?

A. $150,000 for Community Food Grants
B. $200,000 for Youth Development Grants
C. $150 million for the St. Petersburg Police Department and Community Enrichment Administration
D. $260,000 for the Childhood Homelessness Project

Yes, the answer is in the article

Events

Tuesday, Sept. 16

Wednesday, Sept. 17

Thursday, Sept. 18

Friday, Sept. 19

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox | 7:35 p.m. | George M. Steinbrenner Field | $57+

Saturday, Sept. 20

18th Annual Superhero Walk | 9 a.m. | Vinoy Park | Free

Plunder our events cal

Feature your event here, or make a bigger splash

News Notes

Real Estate

$95 million. That’s how much Boston-based Rockhill Management + Dallas-Rockpoint just paid for the Westin Tampa Waterside on Harbour Island. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Development

Semco Investments LLC is planning to build a slew of eight-story student apartment complexes near USF. The $40 million project will have three phases, the first of which should be finished by fall 2027. Beyond the apartments, the project also includes a golf simulator, pickleball court, and a movie theater. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Announced

Imagine heading to the top of this Edge District parking garage to check out a garden ... and rare dinosaur bones. Ellison Development wants to construct a park atop The Central’s parking garage for Devaiah, a 76-million-year-old Gorgosaurus displayed in glass. We’ll keep you posted on the project.

Open

Oreo, Fruity Pebble Overload, and Flaming Hot Cheetos Overload. Those are just a few of the bagels on the menu at The Bagel Nook. The New Jersey brand is opening its doors in downtown Tampa sometime soon. (That’s So Tampa)

Try This

Outdoor hockey in Florida? Yes it exists. The Lightning play the Boston Bruins on Sunday, Feb. 1 at Raymond James Stadium — and it’s the first outdoor hockey game in Tampa Bay. Tickets go on sale Thursday, Sept. 18 at 10 a.m. They’re predicted to sell out fast. (Tampa Bay Times)

Plan Ahead

The 727 Day Drone Light Show — which was rained out — is officially rebooked for Saturday, Oct. 18. Head to the Pier to catch the aerial show at 8 p.m. Don’t miss it: 1,000 synchronized drones will take to the sky to tell the story of the Sunshine City. (I Love the Burg)

Mailbag

I missed a gem in my guide to TBAY fiber arts spots. Jackie B. wrote in to suggest, “The very best fabric store in all of Tampa Bay is Fabric Smart near Tyrone Square. An incredibly knowledgable staff has an artistic eye for buying gorgeous fabrics plus plenty of assistance for beginners.”

Watch

The destination is set for “The White Lotus” Season 4, and it’s looking very French. Filming hasn’t started yet, so there’s plenty of time to enroll in a course of the language — or, you could start planning your watch party meals with Tous Les Jours. (Deadline)

Seasonal

Our slice of the Gulf Coast doesn’t get fall colors like much of the country, but the nearest to peak foliage we’ll get is around Monday, Nov. 17. That is, according to this interactive map. Joke’s on them — our parks will be nice to visit all winter long. (Smoky Mountains)

Fun Fact

Florida Southern College was originally designed as a “campus of the future” by Frank Lloyd Wright, one of America’s most notable architects. Check out the story behind Wright’s work at the limited-time Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art exhibit.*

Sports

The Buccaneers are still dealing with a shuffled offensive line and now dealing with the injury to Luke Goedeke. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Job

Ready to kickstart your career in digital media sales remotely? We’re looking for a Sales Coordinator to fuel our fast-paced sales team, with a competitive salary, premium benefits, unlimited PTO, and real growth opportunities to boot. Apply to join our team.

Read

Stay sharp and informed with The Signal’s free daily newsletter with global context and critical perspective. Join 100,000+ subscribers when you sign up today.*

Older Adults

If you need extra cash flow in retirement, a reverse mortgage could help. These loans let homeowners 62 and older convert part of their home’s equity into tax-free cash, while keeping the title (given you live in the home and maintain upkeep). Explore top reverse mortgage providers.*

The Buy

Your annual flannel fix:

🍂 This No. 1 best-selling cropped flannel shacket might just be your go-to look for fall.
🍂 Throw this soft + lightweight women’s button down shacket over jeans and tops.
🍂 This men’s flannel hoodie comes in any shade of plaid you could dream up.
🍂 Go for an open-front poncho style cardigan for a cozy, relaxed look.
🍂 If you’d rather dress up the living room, try this checkered knit throw in cozy rust orange.

More worth The Buy

Games

The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.

Let the games begin

The Wrap

We’re just under a month out from stone crab season — possibly the best time of the year. I found this story on how warming ocean temps might be impacting Florida’s haul super interesting.

There’s plenty of other shellfish delights to pick up in the meantime.

Send us a scoop, question, or feedback

† Disclaimers and Legal | * Advertising Policy

The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602