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Water, other rates may rise to pay for basics

It's time to replace bursting pipes, alleviate flooding and improve roads, says the mayor. And that costs money.

By JANET ZINK
Published August 12, 2005

TAMPA - Roads, upgrades to sewer and stormwater systems, parks and public safety.

These form the cornerstones of Mayor Pam Iorio's proposed 2006 budget.

"We're going to continue to invest in the basics," Iorio said Thursday during a presentation to the City Council.

Funding for the $674-million budget includes increases in utility rates and the city's stormwater fee.

Iorio proposed raising rates for water, sewer and solid waste services that would increase the average monthly utility bill from $67.70 a month to $70.40.

The bump will contribute to a $20-million combined budget increase for those three departments. The pipes running under Tampa are 50 to 100 years old, Iorio said. They're bursting and collapsing all over the city, which could result in fines from environmental agencies.

"The time has come that we've got to address this," Iorio said. "We don't want money going to fines. We want it to go to repairing pipes."

A public hearing on the rate increase is scheduled for Sept. 8.

Iorio also proposes raising the stormwater fee from $12 a year to $36. That will help pay for a $60-million, five-year plan for upgrading the city's drainage system and alleviate flooding problems.

A hearing on the fee increase is scheduled for Aug. 25.

The public safety budget includes a $2-million boost to the fire rescue budget to buy a rescue car for New Tampa, and pay salaries for seven new firefighters and six additional paramedics.

The budget also includes $5.5-million for such projects as road resurfacing, street signs, sidewalks and traffic calming.

"These are small items that really matter," Iorio said.

The mayor earmarked money to begin a five-year plan to turn downtown's east-west roads from one-way to two-way.

That will slow down traffic and make the streets safer for the thousands of people who are likely to live downtown, she said.

Money has been budgeted to widen portions of Cross Creek Boulevard in New Tampa and Manhattan Avenue in South Tampa from two lanes to four, and build a four-lane bridge over Interstate 75 to extend New Tampa Boulevard to Commerce Park Boulevard.

The mayor said her top transportation priority is the widening of 40th Street, an $80-million project divided into five segments.

One section has been completed, and a second section will be done this month.

She expects construction on a portion that includes a bridge over the Hillsborough River to begin in February.

A $1.7-million increase in the parks department will help pay for an expansion of the Woodland Terrace recreation center in Seminole Heights; staffing at the new Cyrus Green Community Center in Belmont Heights; and construction of a 10,000-square-foot community center in New Tampa.

The Parking Department budget this year posts a $5.8-million budget decrease. That's largely because the city sold its parking garage next to Tampa General Hospital to the hospital, said city finance director Bonnie Wise.

The $29-million sale, scheduled to close today, will allow the city to pay off some of its parking debt and reduce its payments.

The department also eliminated 31 vacant employee positions.

Public hearings on the budget are scheduled for Sept. 15 and Sept. 29 at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall, 315 E Kennedy Blvd.

Janet Zink can be reached at 226-3401 or jzink@sptimes.com

[Last modified August 12, 2005, 00:46:18]