Frequently Asked Questions

The City's Annual Budget is a financial plan that outlines how the City generates revenue and allocates funds to support operations throughout the fiscal year.  These funds help provide essential services, including public safety, infrastructure maintenance, transportation, and parks and recreation.

The Annual Budget is prepared through a structured process that begins with establishing a budget timeline.  City departments then submit funding requests to the Budget Office for review.  These requests are evaluated by the Finance Department and City Manager to ensure they align with available revenues and City priorities.  Public budget workshops are held to provide transparency and community input, and the proposed budget is presented to the City Commission during public hearings.  Following these hearings, the City Commission approves and formally adopts the Annual Budget.

The General Fund supports the City's core governmental operations and essential public services.  Revenue for this fund is generated from sources such as ad valorem (property) taxes, occupational licenses, building permits, other local taxes, service charges, tourist-related taxes and fees, rents and leases, and transfers from other City funds.

The Infrastructure Fund supports the construction and improvement of City infrastructure, including buildings, roads, sidewalks, parks, piers, and seawalls.  It also funds major renovations to existing infrastructure and the purchase of capital equipment and vehicles for public safety.  The primary revenue source for this fund is the one-cent sales surtax.

The Internal Improvement Fund supports the maintenance and improvement of streets, sidewalks, and street lighting, as well as operations of the City’s transit system. Revenue for this fund is generated from the six-cent local option fuel surtax and the three-cent gasoline surtax through an interlocal agreement with Monroe County.

The Adaptation and Sustainability Fund supports initiatives that reduce reliance on nonrenewable resources, lower the City's carbon footprint, and help protect the island from the impacts of climate change.  Revenue for this fund comes from user fees, state and federal grants, and transfers from other general government funds.

Enterprise Funds account for services primarily funded by customer fees rather than general tax revenues.  These include Sewer, Stormwater, Solid Waste, Key West Bight Marina, Garrison Bight Marina, and Transit operations.  Revenue generated from service charges is used to support the operations, maintenance, and improvements of these services.

A copy of the current Annual Budget is available on the City of Key West website.  From the homepage, navigate to the Finance Department page and select Adopted Annual Budgets.  The most current adopted budget is displayed first on the page.  To view budgets from previous fiscal years, select the corresponding fiscal year tab (See image provided).

Residents of Key West are encouraged to participate in the City's budgeting process by attending public budget workshops, typically held in July, and the two required public hearings in September before the budget is formally adopted. To support public engagement, the Finance Department has created a webpage with resources and information on how residents can participate in the budget process.

Additional information about specific funds may be requested by submitting a public records request through the City Clerk's Office.