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Budget's approval expands work force

The city's $364-million blueprint adds 32 new positions, retains the same property tax rate and funds the conversion of an old bridge into a promenade.

By TAMARA EL-KHOURY
Published September 16, 2005

CLEARWATER - The City Council approved the city's $364-million budget for fiscal 2006 Thursday night, including a $54-million capital improvement budget.

Council member Bill Jonson was the lone dissenting vote against the city's operating budget of $309-million, which calls for 32 new full-time city positions. The additional jobs represent a 1.7 percent increase in the city's current 1,900 employees.

The new positions include employees at the fire department and a police presence at the city's high schools.

Jonson said he was unsure about expanding the size of the city's government.

"In any organization you start doing new things, but there are some old things you can get rid of," Jonson said.

But he said that overall, the budget was reasonable. He noted that no residents spoke on the budget at Thursday's meeting.

The capital improvement budget includes $900,000 to convert the old bridge to Clearwater Beach into a 300-foot-long promenade.

The project would be built on parts of the west end of the bridge, jutting into the water. The lookout will have views of Coachman Park.

The project will be paid for with Penny for Pinellas funds.

"I think that's a great idea because it's a feature that will attract people to Coachman Park," Jonson said.

The council also kept the property tax rate at $5.75 per $1,000 of assessed value for the fourth consecutive year.

In other council matters, the City Council approved a $10,000 homestead exemption for fixed-income seniors. The tax break, intended to ease the burden of rising property tax bills, will apply to seniors 65 and older with household income of less than $22,693 a year.

The council also approved district boundaries of the Clearwater Cay community development district.

The existing Clearwater Cay Club would be expanded from 24 to 49 acres and include a multimillion-dollar development of housing, shops, a hotel and spa built on the shores of Old Tampa Bay.

[Last modified September 16, 2005, 01:35:22]