Tampa Mayor Jane Castor Unveils $2B Resiliency-Focused Budget & Florida Abortions Drop 40% in First Half of 2025
July 21, 2025 - This Week's News from Central Florida
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Tampa Mayor Jane Castor Unveils $2B Budget, Focuses on Storm Resilience
Mayor Jane Castor presented her recommended budget of $1.98 billion to the Tampa City Council on Thursday, prioritizing critical investments in public safety, storm resilience, and core infrastructure. The proposed budget marks an increase from last year's $1.8 billion plan, driven by rising wages and operational costs, while also indicating an investment in strengthening the city's infrastructure against future weather events. Speaking at Old City Hall, Mayor Castor emphasized the importance of foundational services. "Roads, stormwater systems, and water lines might not be glamorous, but they keep our city running," she stated. With some residents still recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the budget allocates significant resources to flood preparation, building on the $350 million already invested in storm preparation and flood mitigation since 2019. An additional $39 million is earmarked for flood relief projects over the next five years. “We can’t out-build nature, but we can prepare,” Castor stressed. The budget includes $79 million for water line and wastewater pipe replacements, $11 million for permanent backup generators, and additional funding for pump stations and chemical filtration systems. Public safety also sees a substantial allocation of $455 million for police and fire departments, including new equipment and staff. Castor touted a 20% reduction in crime and a sharp 63% drop in homicides across the city, thanks to the hiring of 100 firefighters and 60 police officers since her first year in 2019. Public safety funding is supported by property tax revenue, projected to rise to over $380 million, representing a roughly 7% increase from last year. Tampa’s millage rate will remain unchanged at 6.2076. This translates to an estimated $2,173 in property taxes for a homesteaded residence valued at $400,000. As Mayor Castor unveiled the city’s spending plan, some Council members expressed concerns that the budget doesn't go far enough. Criticisms included insufficient funding for stormwater maintenance and paving projects, with one council member pointing to proposed budget cuts that slash road resurfacing funds in half. Budget workshops are set for August, with public hearings in September to adopt the plan ahead of the October 1 fiscal year start.
Source: City of Tampa | FY2026 Online Budget; Grounded in Progress: Proposed FY26 Budget Reflects Tampa’s Priorities | City of Tampa; Tampa Mayor Jane Castor presents nearly $2 billion budget
Florida Sees 40% Decline in Abortions Following Six-Week Ban
Abortions in Florida have plummeted by 40.4% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Agency for Health Care Administration. As of July 1, 21,572 abortions were reported, down from 36,221 in 2024. This drastic drop coincides with the enforcement of a law banning most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, which took effect on May 1, 2024, following a Florida Supreme Court ruling. The decline in abortions was observed statewide, including among out-of-state residents, whose numbers decreased from 2,928 in the first six months of 2024 to 744 this year. Most reported abortions this year, 21,434, occurred in the first trimester, while 138 were in the second trimester. Notably, 87 second-trimester abortions were performed due to fatal fetal abnormalities, with no third-trimester abortions reported.
Source: Agency for Health Care Administration - Reported Induced Terminations of Pregnancy - 2025 YTD; Florida Abortions Decline 40% - News Service of Florida
Supreme Court Allows UF Students to Sue for COVID-19 Fee Refunds
The Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a potential class-action lawsuit against the University of Florida (UF) may proceed, allowing students to seek refunds for fees paid during the 2020 COVID-19 shutdown. In a 5-2 decision, the justices reversed a lower court ruling that had blocked the case on sovereign immunity grounds. The lawsuit focuses on various fees students paid for campus amenities like transportation, healthcare, and athletics, which became inaccessible when classes transitioned to remote learning during the pandemic. The Supreme Court asserted that sovereign immunity, which generally protects state agencies from legal liability, does not apply to breach-of-contract cases. The court ruled that the appeals court erred in applying "permissible implied covenants" to university-student agreements, as it expected unrealistically detailed terms. The decision affirms that government contracts may include implied covenants, ensuring fairness and good faith between parties. While this ruling does not guarantee refunds for students, it allows litigation to continue and potentially opens the door for similar lawsuits against other Florida universities. Another identical lawsuit against the University of South Florida (USF), which a Hillsborough County circuit court previously ruled in favor of, is currently being appealed.
Source: Court OKs COVID-19 shutdown case involving University of Florida
Florida Public Media Faces Financial Strain After Federal, State Cuts
Public media outlets across Florida are bracing for significant budget shortfalls following the loss of both state and federal funding. Gov. Ron DeSantis recently vetoed $5.74 million for public radio and television stations from the Fiscal Year 2026 state budget, while Congress rescinded $1.1 billion in federal funds previously allocated to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). The cuts affect the primary federal funding source for public media and come as a blow to stations like Tampa’s WMNF and WEDU, which played vital roles during last year’s hurricane season. Local stations are feeling the immediate impact. WMNF, a Tampa-based FM radio station, lost $100,000 from the governor's veto and anticipates a further federal reduction of roughly $230,000, representing about 11% of its budget. Similarly, WEDU, a Tampa PBS station, faces a $2.4 million federal cut on top of a $370,000 state reduction. WUSF, another Tampa Bay NPR member station, is losing $800,000 in federal funds. WUCF, Orlando's PBS station and home to 89.9 WUCF FM, is also set to experience a significant financial setback as it faces a loss of nearly $2 million in federal funding. This substantial cut will directly impact the station's ability to provide vital public safety alerts, produce original local programming, and engage in educational community outreach initiatives for the 4.5 million Central Floridians it serves. In addition to losing $100,000 from Gov. DeSantis’ line-item veto, Central Florida Public Media anticipates a shortfall of approximately $300,000 a year for at least two years in federal support, beginning in October 2025. Station leaders say the reductions will limit staffing, programming, and emergency alert capabilities. Already, Tampa Bay public media outlets are preparing to reduce news coverage, delay hiring, and scale back local educational initiatives. WEDU PBS CEO Paul Grove warned that rural stations relying more heavily on public funding may not survive. Meanwhile, public broadcasters are now turning to listeners and corporate sponsors for support, placing greater emphasis on fundraising efforts to offset the financial gap. So far, public media’s appeal to the community has been well-received by sympathetic audiences. WMNF conducted a last-minute 15-hour "Protect Public Radio" pledge drive on Saturday, July 19, raising a record one-day fundraising total of over $280,000 from 1,300 donors.
Florida is home to 24 public radio stations and 12 public television stations.
Source: Tampa Bay broadcast stations face uncertain future after losing federal and state funding; FAQ: What’s going on with Central Florida Public Media’s federal and state funding; Federal funding cuts hit Tampa Bay NPR, PBS, community broadcasting stations | FOX 13 Tampa Bay; After DeSantis veto and Trump cuts, WMNF Tampa shatters single-day fundraising record | Tampa | Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Florida Airports Now Required to Report “Weather Modification” Activities Under New Law
Starting October 1, all public airports in Florida will be required to submit monthly reports to the state regarding "weather modification activities," a mandate enforced by Attorney General James Uthmeier, who has signaled strict oversight. New state law, SB 56, compels airports to document the presence of any aircraft or equipment designed for "intentional emission, injection, release, or dispersion of air contaminants into the atmosphere... for the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, climate or the intensity of sunlight." Airports that fail to comply risk losing state funding. In a letter issued to airports, Uthmeier warned of the “toxic particulates being sprayed into our atmosphere, polluting our water, contaminating agriculture, and destroying human health.” “We need your help to keep our state free and make sure the skies belong to the people—not to private contractors, corporate experiments or climate extremists,” he added. Orlando International Airport confirmed receipt of the directive, stating both MCO and Orlando Executive Airport will comply. Major airports in Tampa Bay, including Tampa International Airport and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, also plan to comply, sharing that they are awaiting further direction from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). A spokesperson noted that neither airport currently conducts such activities nor is aware of any that require reporting. SB 56, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis and effective July 1, broadly bans all weather modification, including cloud seeding. The new regulations make weather modification and geoengineering a third-degree felony, punishable by a fine of up to $100,000. While meteorologists explain that cloud seeding involves injecting particles into clouds to enhance rain, it cannot create clouds or permanently alter weather patterns. The bill's sponsor, Senator Ileana Garcia (R-Miami), indicated the law aims to assuage public concerns about geoengineering; however, weather modification, which requires a license and permit, has had no such new requests or permit issuances in over a decade. In the letter to airports, Attorney General Uthmeier also drew a connection to the deadly flash floods in Texas, implying “weather modification could have played a role in this tragedy.” A claim that has been discredited.
Source: Florida airports ordered to report 'weather modification'; Weather Modification Played No Role in Texas Floods - FactCheck.org
Florida Democrats Introduce Legislation to Shut Down “Alligator Alcatraz"
A coalition of Florida Democrats in Congress has introduced a bill aimed at defunding and ultimately closing "Alligator Alcatraz," the controversial immigration detention facility located in the environmentally sensitive Everglades. The "No Cages in the Everglades Act" seeks to prohibit federal funding for the site and any similar facility near the ecosystem, citing environmental and human rights concerns. The bill, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Weston) and co-sponsored by Kathy Castor (D-Tampa), Frederica Wilson (D-Miami Gardens), Lois Frankel (D-West Palm Beach), Darren Soto (D-Kissimmee), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Miramar), Maxwell Frost (D-Orlando), and Jared Moskowitz (D-Coral Springs), mandates that the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General issue a full report within 90 days detailing the facility’s costs, operations, and environmental impact. The report would seek to address the lack of transparency surrounding the site and allegations of overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and restricted access to legal counsel. Wasserman Schultz described the detention center as operating without public accountability and labeled it an “atrocity.” Democrat lawmakers who toured the site last week described “disturbing and vile” conditions, saying hundreds of migrants were being detained in areas that were overcrowded, unsanitary, and insect-infested. The newly introduced legislation also affirms congressional members' right to conduct announced or unannounced inspections of any immigration detention facility, a measure spurred by state lawmakers being denied entry to Alligator Alcatraz earlier this month.
Florida Takes Over Everglades Restoration Project from Army Corps of Engineers
Management of a major Everglades restoration project will transition to the state of Florida following an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which previously oversaw the project. The deal grants the state control of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir, a 10,000-acre site with a 6,500-acre stormwater treatment area capable of storing 78 billion gallons of water. The transfer aims to accelerate the completion of the reservoir project, now slated for July 2029—five years ahead of schedule. The ongoing restoration efforts are designed to enhance water quality by cleaning agricultural runoff from Lake Okeechobee before it flows into the Caloosahatchee and Indian Rivers, mitigating harmful algal blooms on both coasts. Massive pumping stations are being utilized to help ensure a natural southward flow of clean water into the Everglades, crucial for balancing the salinity of Florida Bay. The Army Corps of Engineers expressed confidence in Florida as a "model partner," emphasizing the shared commitment to rehydrating the Everglades and Florida Bay.
Source: https://www.thecentersquare.com/florida/article_1aefef83-dcfc-4d06-8bdc-d1ff3cb27330.html
Meet the Tampa Bay Rays' (Likely) New Owner: Billionaire Patrick Zalupski
Jacksonville real estate mogul Patrick Zalupski is poised to become the new owner of the Tampa Bay Rays after reportedly agreeing to a $1.7 billion deal to purchase the team from current owner Stu Sternberg. The move has pushed the Dream Finders Homes founder and CEO to the center of Major League Baseball’s ownership conversations as he has quickly risen from relative obscurity to become a prominent figure in Tampa Bay. Zalupski, who launched Dream Finders during the 2008 housing crash, turned it into a successful homebuilding business, selling over 30,000 homes across 10 states. The company went public in 2021 and reported $4.4 billion in revenue last year, earning Zalupski a spot on Forbes’ billionaire list. But while Dream Finders Homes has experienced rapid growth, it has also faced controversy. In Duval County alone, the company is involved in more than 60 lawsuits alleging construction defects. Homeowners have complained of construction delays, post-contract price hikes, unresolved warranty issues, and shoddy craftsmanship. They also criticize Dream Finders for their lack of responsiveness in correcting reported issues. Zalupski is also a Gov. DeSantis appointee, serving on the University of Florida Board of Trustees since 2023.
Orlando Homebuyers Need $26K Raise to Afford Average Home, Zillow Finds
Aspiring homeowners in Orlando face a growing affordability gap, according to a new report from Zillow. The real estate firm found that the average household earning Orlando’s median income of $90,400 would need an additional $26,497 annually to comfortably afford a typical home priced at $393,384—significantly higher than the national shortfall of $17,670. Zillow said the affordability gap is a new phenomenon compared to five years ago, driven by rising prices and elevated interest rates. Tampa’s gap is even wider, with buyers needing an extra $27,198 to purchase an average home costing $368,374. Miami remains Florida’s most expensive market, requiring a $45,379 raise to afford a $482,204 home. Meanwhile, Jacksonville is the most affordable metro area surveyed in the Sunshine State. There, a buyer earning the median family income of $81,000 still faces a $19,202 gap to afford a $350,000 home.
Source: Buyers need a $17,000 raise to afford a home - Zillow
Rays Fans Hope New Ownership Signals a New Era of Investment and Stability
The potential acquisition of the Tampa Bay Rays by Jacksonville billionaire Patrick Zalupski has ignited optimism among long-suffering fans, who dream of an owner with the financial muscle to secure a state-of-the-art ballpark and elevate the team's competitiveness. While a $1.7 billion agreement in principle is reportedly in place with current owner Stu Sternberg, significant work remains. For nearly three decades, Rays fans have endured a subpar stadium, an often-criticized location, and one of MLB's lowest payrolls. Despite consistent on-field success and nine playoff appearances since 2008 under Sternberg's innovative front office, the team has consistently ranked near the bottom in attendance. This has fueled a persistent narrative that a new, appealing ballpark and a financially robust ownership group are the missing ingredients for sustained success and fan engagement. Zalupski, founder of the successful Dream Finders Homes, represents the hope for a new chapter. While he may not rival baseball’s wealthiest owners, fans are hopeful he’ll invest enough to lift the team’s payroll closer to league averages, moving beyond the bottom-three status that has defined the Rays for years. Equal optimism also exists that Zalupski will back a long-awaited path forward for a new stadium, likely in Tampa, which will require forging new relationships with local politicians and business leaders. This includes securing creative financing to fund a ballpark potentially costing $1.5 billion or more, and navigating a political atmosphere that remains cautious about public funding for such projects. Still, Zalupski’s deep pockets and business acumen could provide the momentum needed to reshape the Rays’ future—and reward the loyalty of a patient fan base.
Ybor Harbor Emerges as Potential Rays Stadium Site
A 45-acre waterfront industrial site in Ybor City once set aside for a professional women’s soccer stadium could instead become the new home for the Tampa Bay Rays, according to Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan. The land, owned by developer Darryl Shaw, is gaining traction as the leading site for a future ballpark under new team ownership, which has announced a preference for securing a Tampa location. Hagan confirmed that Shaw told him that the Ybor Harbor property, currently an active shipyard, remains available for baseball despite public plans announced in June to build a soccer stadium for the USL Super League’s (USLS) Tampa Bay Sun FC, a professional women's soccer club owned by local businessmen, including Shaw. In examining the site, leaders emphasized that a Major League Baseball stadium would be a greater economic driver due to its longer season and higher attendance. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor also acknowledged that Ybor Harbor remains a "viable option for baseball." Should the proposal to construct a stadium on the site proceed, Hillsborough County could examine financing options such as renewal of the Community Investment Tax and the creation of a Community Redevelopment Area to fund supporting infrastructure like roads and utilities.
Source: Tampa Bay Rays' sale could affect the Rowdies and Sun soccer teams, Ybor City stadium site | WUSF
Tampa Bay's Office Market Booming Amid National Downturn
While much of the nation grapples with excess office space and declining leases, Tampa Bay's commercial real estate market is experiencing a contrasting surge in demand for high-quality office properties. Developers report they cannot build premium office space fast enough to meet the needs of businesses seeking modern, amenity-rich environments, even as older, less amenitized offices in suburban areas struggle. Top-quality offices in areas like Water Street, Midtown, and downtown St. Pete are driving the region’s post-pandemic resurgence, with average asking rents up more than 20% since late 2019, according to CBRE. Tampa is among the top 15 markets with the lowest vacancy rates in the country. The region's success is attributed to business-friendly policies, corporate relocations, and exciting new or renovated mixed-use developments coming online in recent years. Companies are increasingly prioritizing well-located commercial space in vibrant, walkable neighborhoods to attract and retain talent, enhance productivity, and foster a positive work culture. New mixed-use developments like Water Street, Heights Union, and Midtown Tampa, have been a successful model, with green spaces, fitness centers, and diverse retail options conveniently accessible for workers. In Midtown Tampa’s city-within-a-city concept, all 290,000 square feet of office space has been filled. Other developments, such as Gasworx, Midtown East, and St. Petersburg’s The Residences at 400 Central, are also expected to draw top companies, but experts warn supply still lags behind demand. As tenants prioritze location, amenities, and lifestyle, the shift has left suburban office parks struggling or even facing demolition. Despite high construction costs and tight financing conditions as lenders remain wary of office assets, developers continue to invest in renovations and new builds, emphasizing that premium office space is now a key factor in attracting—and retaining—top-tier businesses to the region.
Source: Conversions & Demolitions Reducing U.S. Office Supply | CBRE; Tampa Bay developers say we can’t build offices fast enough. Here’s why
Ringling Museum Donors Pull Support After DeSantis Proposes Takeover
Concerns over political interference are taking a financial toll on the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art following a proposal by Gov. Ron DeSantis to transfer oversight from Florida State University (FSU) to the New College of Florida. While the proposal failed to pass in this year's state budget, anxiety persisted, and several donors have withdrawn or reconsidered major planned gifts. Three donors, collectively representing over $750,000 in potential lost support, confirmed to Suncoast Searchlight that they have either pulled or paused gifts due to concerns about New College's political leadership and capacity to manage a major cultural institution. FSU currently oversees the museum’s $50 million endowment, 220 staff members, and associated art programs. This backlash underscores fears voiced by museum supporters earlier this year that such a politically motivated shift would deter essential philanthropic contributions. The proposed transfer was part of a broader political movement by DeSantis to reshape Florida's academic and cultural landscape, prominently seen in his overhaul of New College. The Sarasota school became controversial after the governor successfully transformed the institution with a conservative agenda, resulting in the removal of certain curriculum and material, faculty departures, and broader concerns about academic freedom. For many Ringling benefactors, the perceived threat of political interference in a beloved institution was enough to erode confidence, leading to tangible financial repercussions.
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