| |
The Wave
Your Pinellas County Government Newsletter
October 2026
| | A glance at people, programs & news from Pinellas County! | | Tails of pets finding home | | |
After 335 days at Pinellas County Animal Services, Rollo spent a morning exploring Downtown Dunedin with Commission Chair Dave Eggers. We shared his adventure on social media, introducing thousands of people to the sweet, laid-back pup who had been waiting nearly a year for a family.
Three days later, Rollo was adopted!
After nearly a year of waiting, Rollo finally has a family, kids to love, and a couch to call his own.
Rollo found his people, but plenty of pets at Pinellas County Animal Services are still waiting for theirs. See our current adoptable pets at pinellas.gov/adopt-a-pet.
| | |
Pinellas County Animal Services will implant free microchips in pets belonging to County residents on Saturday, October 10, from 10 a.m. to noon at Oldsmar Fire Station.
Microchipping is a safe and effective way to help lost pets get back home as quickly as possible. Households may have up to two pets microchipped at the event, while supplies last.
While you're there, check out the new microchip scanner station, donated by Girl Scout Troop 31816!
The station is available for anyone to scan a found pet for a microchip, helping reunite lost pets with their families faster.
| | Congratulations to the 2026 Fire Professionals of the Year | | |
The 2026 Fire Professionals of the Year represent some of the very best in the fire service, professionals whose dedication, leadership and teamwork helps keep our community safe.
Congratulations to Pinellas Park Fire Department Firefighter/Paramedic Zachary Teramae, Regional 911 Lead Telecommunicator Kenneth Smith, and the Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue Fireboat 27 crew: Mary Miller, Joshua Coley, Christopher Hussain and Garrett Lunn.
Watch to see what sets them apart.
We thank these professionals for their dedication to serving our community every day and for answering the call when they’re needed most.
| | Mosquito Control in action | | The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners recently declared a State of Local Emergency for the mosquito-borne spread of dengue fever impacting Pinellas County. Learn more about the declaration. | |
Our dedicated mosquito control crews are continuing an elevated response to reduce mosquito populations across the county. Completed and planned truck and aerial treatments can be found on the County’s online treatment map.
Mosquito control crews are also going door to door in many treatment areas offering to assist residents find potential mosquito breeding areas and treat them with the resident’s approval. Our staff will be in Pinellas County uniforms with an ID badge.
Visit Pinellas.gov/mosquito to see how you can help protect yourself and your community.
| Residential tire disposal fee waived this month | | |
A single tire sitting in your yard can become a breeding site for thousands of mosquitoes.
Pinellas County Solid Waste is waiving residential tire disposal fees from Sept. 28 to Oct. 30, 2026, to help reduce the spread of dengue fever. Pinellas County residents can bring up to four unwanted tires, no more than 36 inches in diameter, to the Solid Waste Disposal Complex free of charge. Tires can be attached to rims.
A few things to know:
- The fee waiver is for residents only and does not apply to businesses.
- Tires must be kept separate from other trash or waste.
- Bring a driver’s license to verify Pinellas County residency.
Location: Solid Waste Disposal Complex, 3095 114th Ave. N., St. Petersburg
Hours: Monday–Friday: 6 a.m.–6 p.m.; Saturday: 7 a.m.–5 p.m.
Learn more about the tire disposal fee waiver.
| | Largo woman celebrates new storm-safe home: "The best blessing I could have ever received." | | |
As we hit the two-year anniversary of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, we celebrated Melissa moving into her brand new storm-safe home in Largo.
This was the first home completely rebuilt through the Pinellas Recovers program, but there are many more to come.
“I wake up in the mornings and actually look out the window because it’s like I’m in someone else’s home until I see, oh, it’s on my property. It must be mine! This has been the best, best blessing that I could have ever received,” she said.
| | FY27 budget adopted after months of difficult choices | | |
After nine months of intensive review and difficult tradeoffs, the Board of County Commissioners adopted a balanced Fiscal Year 2027 Budget that reduced the General Fund property tax rate to 4.4989 mills, its lowest level since 1989.
Despite rising costs and unfunded state and federal mandates, the Commission reduced the rate for the fifth time in six years. Doing so required making difficult reductions, identifying alternate funding sources and revisiting spending across County government.
| | Discover what's lurking, fluttering and waiting to be uncovered in our parks | Something is stirring in Pinellas County parks. Bats, bugs, birds, ancient artifacts and… cars? Yep, it’s all happening in Pinellas County parks this month. Learn about ancient history, pollinators and creatures of the night like bats, owls or moths. | |
If car shows are more your speed than broomsticks, check out Oct-motor-fest at Heritage Village on Oct. 24.
During the Archaeology Lab, volunteers can help clean, sort or identify artifacts at Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center on Oct. 4.
There's also a chance to identify and remove invasive plants that haunt our native vegetation at War Veterans Memorial and John Chesnut parks on Oct. 10.
Whether you prefer a Naturalist guided tour, a bird hike, a botany walk or want to explore a maze of watery roots, register and learn more about all our upcoming events.
| | Join the Pinellas County team! | | |
We offer competitive pay, with salaries starting at $18/hour and above. Our benefits package, ranked among the top in the area, includes medical coverage starting at $13.09 per paycheck, participation in the Florida Retirement System, leave time starting at 15 days annual/sick leave in the first year, a wellness program, deferred compensation, tuition reimbursement and more.
This month’s featured jobs include:
- EMS Training Instructor
- Marine Safety Coordinator
- Operations Manager - Utilities
Learn more about what we offer and apply today at pinellas.gov/careers.
| | | | |
