But the county budget director says Seminole annexation would not affect grants already awarded.
By MAUREEN BYRNE AHERN
Published July 13, 2003
SEMINOLE - When Seminole Youth Athletic Association members learned a $180,000 county grant was coming their way, they were overjoyed.
For an organization that receives no government support and operates on registration fees, fundraisers, donations and plenty of volunteer hours, the money was a godsend.
"That was a big deal for sure," said Terry Sand, an association board member and president of the football program.
But the elation has turned to concern.
The complex at 90th Avenue N and 120th Street, which has six baseball fields, two soccer fields and a football field, is located in the middle of one of five areas that the city wants to annex. If voters in the "Western" area pass the Aug. 26 referendum, association board members fear the nonprofit organization could lose the grant.
"The board is really concerned about this," board president Bob Diem said. "We don't want (the grant) to be in jeopardy."
It isn't, said Mark Woodard, the county's budget director.
"For those grants that already have been awarded in the current fiscal year, I would say that commitment has been made and would not be modified by any annexation that would occur this year," he said.
However, any future grant requests would be affected by annexation, Woodard said. That's because the county's program that funds the recreation grants comes from taxes paid only by residents of unincorporated areas. So the grants go to programs that benefit them.
Applicants are asked to specify what portion of their proposal benefits residents outside the cities. That way, the county can determine what percentage to fund, Woodard said. If two of the proposed areas - "Western" and "Canterbury Chase" - pass annexation referendums next month, the percentage of unincorporated residents would shrink and so would the amount of any future county grants.
The County Commission agreed last December to pay $1.9-million for recreation programs for residents in unincorporated Pinellas. Most of the money comes from a rate increase on the special property tax that only unincorporated residents pay.
The athletic association was one of 29 recreation programs that got money. Kathy Swain, the county's park and recreation operations manager, said the association's grant is being processed. The grant includes $112,000 for new lights for a baseball field, $16,000 for a cover over the concession stand, $32,000 for a new restroom and $20,000 for field maintainance. The Greater Seminole Area Special Recreation District owns the fields on 20 acres not far from Seminole High School and leases them to the athletic association, which provides sports activities for about 1,500 families.
Stephen Kemp, a former athletic association president, expressed concern about the complex's power bill. He and fellow association members joined about 100 people who packed council chambers Tuesday. Kemp said the association had no desire to be annexed if it meant the organization would have a higher electric bill. The city charges a 6 percent utility tax and a 6 percent franchise fee on electric bills. The county does not.
