Fire district caves on tax as property appraiser intervenes and trap closes

After voting to levy a 0.5 mill tax last night, the Pinellas Suncoast Fire Distict (PSFRD) board today gave notice that they will reverse themselves tomorrow. No millage rate tax will be levied after all, only the previously levied flat tax of $260 per home. The PSFRD board’s decision came just hours after property appraiser Mike…

St. Pete deputy mayor steps on mines, hurts Kriseman’s re-election effort

St. Pete deputy mayor Kanika Tomalin alleged last weekend on Facebook that she was “blatantly racially profiled” in Misred, a downtown St. Pete store located in the 600 block of Central Avenue. The store is owned by Rick Baker supporter Sara Stonecipher, and Baker is mayor Kriseman’s opponent in the November mayoral election. All this…

Pinellas Suncoast fire tax hike cremated by court

Ed Hoofnagle is an Indian Rocks Beach city commissioner. Politicians in Pinellas County normally “go along to get along”, so suing another government agency to stop a tax hike would be down right impolite. Suing the Pinellas Suncoast Fire Distict (PSFRD) after their tax hike passed on last fall’s ballot, now that would be downright…