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Programs' defenders pack budget talks

After city commissioners lower the tax rate, they assure residents and staff that jobs and services won't be slashed.

By SHANNON TAN
Published September 14, 2005

LARGO - The victim's advocate position is safe.

So are the before- and after-school child care programs.

City staff members and residents were relieved to learn Tuesday that current jobs and city programs wouldn't be slashed because of a $1.66-million loss in revenue when commissioners voted 4-3 to lower the proposed property tax rate.

No vote was taken at the work session. Although a final vote on the budget won't take place until Thursday, commissioners made it clear they would not cut most of the items in a four-page list of possibilities.

However, commissioners didn't come to a consensus on whether the shortfall should be made up by dipping into the $9-million balance the city expects to have in its general reserve fund at the end of the fiscal year.

Mayor Bob Jackson suggested not filling vacant jobs, and trimming expenses by cutting back on lobbying, but he noted that those items would only be a fraction of the $1.66-million.

Opposition to the idea of cutting programs or jobs ran high. City staff members and residents packed the community room to listen to the discussion, while the overflow watched the meeting on a TV screen in an adjacent room.

The Haven of RCS, Pinellas County Victim Rights Coalition and Family Service Centers wrote letters urging officials to preserve the victim's advocate and domestic violence programs. Faxes and e-mails poured in from working parents who opposed cutting before- and after-school child care. Others lamented the possible closing of McGough Nature Park for two days a week.

Kim Adams, management services director, pointed out that removing $1.66-million every year from the budget would compound the problem. The city would face "a pretty squeaky fund balance situation" in fiscal 2008, he said.

But Jackson said he voted for the rolled-back property tax rate because he's "opposed to taking money from citizens and banking it for future need." He emphasized that he was against cutting jobs and city programs, and that people were panicking unnecessarily.

He said he was surprised when Commissioners Mary Gray Black, Andrew Guyette and Jean Halvorsen also voted for the reduced rate.

Commissioner Pat Gerard, who voted against the reduced tax rate, said the fiscally responsible thing to do was to cut back expenses.

"If I had to line you and Kim Adams up and decide who I had to follow, it would be him in a heartbeat," said Vice Mayor Gay Gentry. "Look at this crowd, they are here because of the turmoil we caused last week."

Commissioners voted initially to reduce the rate from $4.75 to $4.2758 in city taxes for every $1,000 of taxable value. Now state law prevents them from raising it again when they adopt the final budget.

During the discussion, commissioners quibbled over who had suggested cutting back city positions and programs. Commissioner Harriet Crozier said that Jackson should have lobbied other commissioners earlier in the year to get support for the rolled-back tax rate and explained how he crunched the budget numbers.

City Manager Steven Stanton said his staff also did not expect the rolled-back tax rate.

"It's such a contentious time up there," he said, referring to commission meetings, "I thought the best thing we can do is pass the budget, go home and don't fight anymore."

Black objected to the word "contentious."

"When we leave this dais," she said, "I hope we walk out as friends." She added: "It takes two to be friends."

Shannon Tan can be reached at shtan@sptimes.com or 445-4174.

[Last modified September 14, 2005, 02:15:34]