Services, city jobs may fall to cuts

The city budget has shortfalls in 2003 and 2004, and the City Council is looking to save $10-million.

By CARRIE JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 11, 2003

ST. PETERSBURG -- Jobs probably will be cut, brush sites eliminated and park lawns allowed to grow shaggier as the city searches for ways to slash $10-million from next year's already thin budget.

Facing shortfalls for both 2003 and 2004, the City Council will be asked to make some unpopular decisions during the coming months.

"There's no doubt that this is going to be a very, very difficult year," said Andy Houston, director of internal services.

The city ran up a deficit of approximately $4-million in 2003. Houston said that probably can be resolved by reducing some services and tapping into emergency reserves set aside in years past.

But reconciling a predicted shortfall of $10-million in 2004 is proving to be a bigger challenge.

In anticipation of the crunch, Mayor Rick Baker asked all city departments to identify possible cuts. Those suggestions were compiled into a 44-page document and shared with members of the City Council on Thursday.

Houston stressed the proposed reductions weren't final. The mayor has reviewed the recommendations and asked for more information before making a formal presentation to the council.

Some of the areas city staff has proposed cutting include:

Eliminating a special program to clean up graffiti and yard signs placed in the city's right of way.

Shutting down the southwest and Lake Maggiore brush sites, and closing the remaining brush sites two days a week.

Cutting as many as three city code investigators.

Washing garbage trucks only when they are repaired. The trucks are currently washed every week.

Eliminating a park ranger, program specialist supervisor and maintenance mechanic from Boyd Hill Park.

Reducing building repair and maintenance to the Jamestown housing complex by 33 percent and reducing supplies by 27 percent.

Staff members also are exploring ways to increase revenue, including hiking fees for before- and after-school programs and pool admission, and holding three general admission rock concerts and a rodeo at the Bayfront Center.

The stagnant economy has been creating problems for government agencies over the past several years. In 2001-02, St. Petersburg was walloped by a sharp increase in property and health insurance costs.

This year, the plummet in the stock market is draining the city's pension funds. The cost of keeping the funds afloat soared $9-million over budget in 2002, Houston said.

"There's been no place to hide for the last few years," he said.

Council members called the cuts suggested by staff a good starting point for the budget discussions that will continue throughout the spring and early summer.

Council member Bill Foster said he had concerns about eliminating jobs at a time when the economy was so sluggish. "These are real people with real families to feed," he said.

Foster said he has already warned constituents to expect some drops in service levels in the coming year.

"So the grass at the parks might be an inch higher than you're used to," he said. "Deal with it. We've got some more important things that we've got to focus on."

Council member James Bennett suggested the city explore the potential effect of an increase in property taxes.

The city's property tax rate has remained unchanged at $7.14 per $1,000 of taxable property value since 2001.

Houston said it's doubtful any increase would be approved. The mayor has said he is firmly opposed to raising taxes and has made reducing the tax rate in St. Petersburg, one of his goals.

The City Council plans to hold a series of workshops in May before finalizing any cuts. Foster said there won't be any easy solutions this year.

Other cost-saving measures proposed by city staff

Delay maintenance of the sewer system.

Eliminate a greenskeeper position at Mangrove Bay Golf Course.

Cut two full-time librarians, two full-time library assistants and two part-time library aides.

Delay scheduled tree planting on 9th Avenue N.

Reduce summer camp staff.

Parks staff will no longer collect litter on the interstate.

Raise the price of garbage collection from $16.35 per month to $18.20.

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