The City of St. Petersburg’s support for diversity, equity, inclusion and environmental sustainability is now under state scrutiny.
A nine-page letter from the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to the city has about 90 specific requests. Some of the 15 related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) extend to “contractors, grant recipients or members of the public.”
The state appointees want to read all communications regarding “so-called anti-racism” efforts since Jan. 1, 2019. DOGE defines DEI as “any form of preferential treatment based on race, ethnicity, gender or the like, including the use of substitutes such as ‘cultural competence’ or ‘lived experience’ to conceal such preferential treatment.”
Mayor Ken Welch said Monday that the city will “fully cooperate” with DOGE. Administrators, who are currently preparing the fiscal year 2026 budget, must provide the extensive data by Aug. 13 – the start of a two-day visit – or face “financial penalties.”
“I take no issue with the audit,” said City Councilmember Corey Givens Jr. “Our job as elected officials is to always be good stewards of taxpayers’ funds.”
Givens added that he welcomes “the transparency and accountability” as council members consider adopting the budget and millage rate. Welch recently presented his $1.1 billion spending plan, and money is tighter than in recent years due to the 2024 storm season and federal funding cuts.
The letter, dated Aug. 1, begins by noting that city officials have reduced property tax rates in recent years. However, DOGE wrote that rising values have caused those revenues to soar by $95 million, or 75%, since 2019.
The agency said property tax collections have “helped pay for a rapidly growing general fund budget” that has increased by $130 million over the past six years. Council Chair Copley Gerdes noted that city officials have increased the number of budget discussions and are “doing everything they can to make sure we’re being fiscally responsible.”
“I think the city has done a really good job of managing its finances,” Gerdes added. “I think that has shown itself during and after these hurricanes.”
Specific requests
The state’s myriad requests begin with policies and procedures for procurements or contracts over $10,000. DOGE did not provide a starting date for an itemized list.
The city must provide information corresponding to 11 employee compensation-related requests. Those encompass bonuses, promotions and raises.
DOGE will scrutinize city-owned property leased to private organizations, and specifically mentioned the Coliseum. Administrators must provide “the basis and determination that such lease constitutes the best use of the property” and the “current valuation and costs of upkeep and maintenance,” among other data.
Givens expects the state to scrutinize “how we are managing our way out of our stormwater and utility bill challenges.” Officials have discussed issuing debt, supported by a new property tax, to pay for critical resiliency projects rather than increasing service rates exponentially.
The governor, meanwhile, would like to eliminate property taxes. DOGE wants to review all rate studies since 2019, and the “methodology used to determine transfers of funds between the utilities systems and other government funds.”
“If there’s a budget department that’s prepared for this, it’s ours,” Gerdes said. “They are the best in the country, in my opinion. Even though it might be a big lift … we’ll be ready with whatever the state is looking for.”
DEI and sustainability
Nearly five of seven specific request pages encompass DEI, environmental sustainability, nonprofit grants, transportation projects and homeless services. DOGE specifically requested the Coliseum’s “budget and actual revenues.”
Pinellas County did not receive requests regarding homeless services or specific facilities and people. DOGE requested access to George Smith, the city’s chief equity officer; Lendel Bright, disability and diversity coordinator; Kouery Hendryx-Bell, supplier diversity manager; and Sharon Wright, former director of sustainability and resilience.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Wright left the city in October 2022. Alison Mihalic and the current director, Maeven Rogers, succeeded Wright.
The state wants a list of all employees advancing DEI efforts, as well as training sessions related to privilege, bias or “belonging.” Administrators must provide a copy of all official goals, policies and mission statements, along with departmental actions taken to support those efforts.
DOGE requested information on DEI training offered by the city to “contractors, grant recipients or members of the public,” including the identities of attendees and trainers. Givens called the potential backlash a “major concern.”
The state will likely also scrutinize funding for related events, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Day and St. Pete Pride parades. Gerdes said he stands by the city’s propensity for recognizing underserved communities and all holidays.
“I’m proud of all the efforts we make across the city when it comes to celebrating the culture, the history of St. Petersburg,” Gerdes said.
DOGE wants documentation related to St. Petersburg’s sustainability and clean energy goals, including any cost-benefit analyses and expenses. Discussions regarding the potential replacement of Duke Energy with a municipal utility would likely fall under this category.
City officials must also provide comprehensive data regarding the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge, the lease or acquisition of electric vehicles (EVs) and solar power initiatives. DOGE also requests the “justifications related to the use of $400,000 of BP settlement resources for EV infrastructure.”
The state also singled out St. Petersburg’s efforts to address homelessness. DOGE wants associated spending and grant information and “all data” regarding “mental health, crime, immigration status, substance abuse and public service usage in connection with homeless and affordable housing services.”
“This isn’t fiscal oversight, it’s political retaliation,” said State Rep. Michell Rayner in a prepared statement. “If we’re serious about responsible budgeting, we should be solving Florida’s housing and insurance crisis, investing in strong public education and working around the clock to bring down everyday costs.”
This content provided in partnership with StPeteCatalyst.com
