Homeowners are Belleair’s Small Businesses backbone

Last updated on July 4, 2023

Tourism and agriculture remain Florida’s two biggest industries. Yet, small businesses are the backbone of local communities. Belleair has either!

While all our surrounding communities. Like Largo, Clearwater, and even Belleair Bluffs. Budgets are bolstered by the tax revenues large and small businesses alike generate. But then again Belleair wasn’t designed to be business friendly. You can’t even buy a bottle of water or baby diapers in Belleair!

Yet from 2015 to 2019, Belleair’s budget increased by 3 million dollars or about $600,000 per year.

With a population of approximately 4,260, that’s an increase of $700 per year Per Capita. In 2020 Belleair’s budget was roughly $4,750 Per Capita.

• 2015–2016 Micah Maxwell Town Manager’s fiscal year budget was $13,067,820.
• 2016–2017 Micah Maxwell last year as Town Manager budget was $15,765,050.
• 2017–2018 JP Murphy new Town Manager budget was $15,159,625.
• 2018-2019 JP Murphy budget was $18,593,686.
• 2019-2020 JP Murphy budget was $19,166,743.

Except for a handful of service-related businesses. Belleair’s two private golf courses. The new Pelican Golf Club with its 153 acres and the Belleair Country Club and its 231 acres. (385 acres in total) That’s 25% of the town entire town that they make money on.

Most Belleair residents, including myself. Are under the impression Especially when the late Mayor Katica made statements that the Country Clubs were the largest taxpayers in town. So, one would think they would be doing their fair share of the heavy lifting. When it comes to Belleair’s budget?

For 2020 Belleair Country Club Corp paid $148,000 of this $47,015.04 of Ad Valorem Taxes was paid to the Town of Belleair via Pinellas County. About the same in 2019.

For 2020 Pelican Golf Club paid $104,475.64 of this $33,475.00 of Ad Valorem Taxes to the Town of Belleair via Pinellas County. In 2019 Pelican Golf LLC paid $50,013.39 in property tax. Belleair’s share was $15,896.74. I’m not saying they’re not paying a mountain size amount of cash into Pinellas County’s war chest. 

Nevertheless, there’re two private homes on perhaps 3 acres located on Willadel Dr, paying over $300,000 in property taxes. That’s more than a big mountain. That’s Mount Everest big!   

Consequently, Belleair homeowners are the backbone small businesses. Making Belleair what it is and generating the lion’s share of Belleair’s budget revenues?