Demolition of Pinellas County's 46-year-old North County Service Center is underway, clearing the way for a $51 million replacement that will consolidate the Tax Collector, Property Appraiser and Clerk of the Circuit Court under one roof in Clearwater by January 2028.
The new building means north county residents who handle property taxes, court filings or appraisal questions will no longer need to visit separate offices scattered across leased spaces.
Bill Greer, director of the county's Construction and Property Management Department, said the facility is anticipated to reach substantial completion in January 2028, earlier than previous projections. Construction is expected to begin by late summer, according to county documents.
Commissioners weigh financing resolution
County commissioners were scheduled to vote July 21 on a reimbursement resolution that preserves the county's ability to finance the project with future tax-exempt bonds. The vote would not authorize construction or issue debt. The outcome was not available at press time.
New building will house all three offices under one roof
The three-story, nearly 80,000-square-foot building will house all three constitutional offices. The first floor will primarily serve walk-in customers, while upper floors will hold administrative offices and call centers.
The campus will also include a three-level, 140,000-square-foot parking garage with approximately 384 spaces and backup power generators to keep services running during emergencies.
Consolidation expected to save $800,000 a year
The current facility can no longer house all county services, forcing the county to lease additional office space. Tax Collector operations are located in leased space at 29399 U.S. 19 N. in Clearwater.
Eliminating those leases will save an estimated $800,000 annually, Greer said.
"Renting has been a less efficient and more costly way to meet service demand," Greer told the St. Pete Catalyst. "By owning a properly sized and modern facility, the County reduces ongoing operating costs funded by annual property taxes while making better use of Penny for Pinellas sales tax revenues already dedicated to capital improvements."
Project traces back to a 2014 consolidation study
Planning for a replacement began in 2014, when county officials first studied consolidating the three offices. In 2019, the county expanded that idea into its "One Stop Shop" strategy. The recently completed South County Service Center in St. Petersburg at 2500 34th St. N. was the first facility built under that model.
The north county project remained on hold until funding became available through Penny for Pinellas IV, the voter-approved 1% sales tax that voters renewed in 2017. The current program supports projects countywide through 2029.
"Those capital dollars are now available, enabling the project to move forward," Greer said. "Beginning construction now helps avoid additional cost escalation."
Project is one piece of a larger government relocation
The North County Service Center is one piece of Pinellas County's broader plan to relocate its government headquarters from downtown Clearwater to a new campus near U.S. 19 and Ulmerton Road. The county purchased that 21-acre site for $33 million in 2023. The full government center campus is expected to be completed in 2029.
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