The St. Petersburg city Council has approved the Fiscal Year 2010 city budget, which began October 1, 2009. Despite an $18.4 million shortfall as the city began the process, the new budget freezes property tax rates, maintains serve at substantially the same levels as last year, and offers the lowest millage rate (5.9125) in 30 years. At $207 million, the general fund budget is five percent lower than last year and is the lowest general fund budget since 2006. Find out more about the city budget at www.stpete.org/budget/.