Fixing Beaches Is Expensive
The Tampa Bay Times reports that, for the first time since 2018, Pinellas County is finally renourishing its beaches. The cost? A whopping $125 million.
And who’s paying for it? Mostly you, through the Tourist Development Tax (TDT). “You” – because this cost leaves less money to promote tourism.
It didn’t use to be this way.
The Army Corps of Engineers used to cover more than half the cost. But now? They won’t contribute unless all beachfront property owners agree to permanent easements. And since it seems unlikely all owners will agree, whose to say the Corps will help pay again?
$125 million.
For perspective, the total annual TDT has averaged about $90 million in recent years. And what if another hurricane hits this year—or next? How will the county pay to protect the very thing that actually brings tourists here?
As the Times notes:
Beach renourishment extends the depth of the beach to absorb effects from future storms. It replaces sand that has washed away by pumping sand from offshore or elsewhere onto the beach.
Pinellas County Commissioner Kathleen Peters put it bluntly:
“When Helene came, we lost our water pipes, we lost all the underground infrastructure down in Sunset Beach… because there was no sand, no beach, to protect that infrastructure.”
Peters also admitted it’s “unprecedented” for the county to take this on alone.
And can we afford it?
Peters:
“Can we afford to do this every five years without them?” — No.
Now imagine if the Rays stadium deal had gone through.
Pinellas County was committing $20 million a year for 30 years for a stadium that made zero sense and had nothing to do with what actually drives tourism.
The real question: what happens next time a hurricane hits, and if the county was without that $20 million?
Lesson:
Don’t waste money on stadiums. Protect what matters—our beaches, our infrastructure, our actual tourists. We’ve been saying it for years.
