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Plans for penny tax outlined

City staff is drawing up a wish list for an extended Penny for Pinellas tax. A public hearing is June 28.

By DEMORRIS A. LEE
Published May 31, 2006

CLEARWATER - The old saying that pennies can make dollars is oh-so-true in Pinellas County. And in Clearwater, those pennies could equate to millions of dollars in library improvements, new firehouses and even a new City Hall.

At a work session Tuesday, the Clearwater City Council haggled over what to do with $138-million it would expect to receive if voters authorize the Penny for Pinellas sales tax for 2010 to 2020.

Starting in 1990, a 1 percent sales tax was placed on goods except for groceries and medicines. Only the first $5,000 of any single purchase is taxed.

Voted by referendum, city residents must approve the tax every 10 years. If voters next March okay the tax for another 10 years, it would be the third time it has been approved.

Since 1990, Clearwater has received $120-million from the fund, which has helped pay for the Memorial Causeway Bridge, the main library, Bright House Networks Field and the widening of Drew Street.

Clearwater and other county municipalities enter into an agreement with the county that allows Pinellas to keep half of the tax proceeds and then divide the other half among the municipalities.

The county has informed Clearwater it can look to net about $138.85-million beginning in 2010. But it must first have a list of projects to the county by Aug. 1.

The list presented Tuesday by City Manager Bill Horne included nearly $13-million for improvements to the Clearwater Beach, Lakeview Road and Countryside fire stations. There was a request for $25-million for downtown streetscape projects and $25-million for a new City Hall. There were millions of dollars requested to upgrade city parks, widen and straighten streets and to bring the city's libraries up to date with the latest technology.

Horne said about $400-million worth of requests were submitted, but city officials used a two-pronged approach to whittle the list. The projects chosen had appropriate and adequate resources identified for their completion and would be focused on restoration and redevelopment. Officials also did not select projects that could be paid for out of other city funds, such as stormwater and sewer projects.

"We're not trying to put a whole lot of money on new stuff," Horne told the council. "...We want to keep (the) Penny on things that those funds can't support."

Before coming up with a final list, the council asked that a public meeting be scheduled so residents could have chance to weigh in. Besides, it's up to voters to decide whether to continue the tax program, the council agreed.

"If the voters come and say, "I'm not going to give you the penny,' then a lot of this goes down the tube anyway," said Council member Hoyt Hamliton.

A two-hour meeting will be at 6:30p.m. June 28. The desired location is the city's main library but that wasn't decided Tuesday. Residents will be able to speak with city staff for an hour, then the second hour they can formally address the council. After getting input, the council will try and come a conclusion on a final list at a July work session.

With the list presented Tuesday, it was agreed, at Mayor Frank Hubbard's request, that a senior center and funding for Ruth Eckerd Hall be added as potential funding recipients.

And the council members all agreed the staff's request for $25-million on streetscaping on the edge of downtown's core was unrealistic. That request encompassed parts of Osceola Avenue, Fort Harrison Avenue, Cleveland Street east of Myrtle Avenue, as well as Court and Chesnut streets.

"I would love to see all the streets mentioned on the list with streetscape," Hamilton said. "But most of the buildings on it look like Fido's rear end. Why do a lot of streetscape work through there when property owners are not committed to do their share as well?"

Demorris A. Lee can be reached at 445-4174 or dalee@sptimes.com

Since 1990, when the voter-approved Penny For Pinellas 1-cent sales tax went into effect, Clearwater has received about $120-million in Penny revenues. That money has paid for everything from the Memorial Causeway Bridge to the new main library and Bright House Networks Field. If Pinellas voters decide next spring to approve the tax for another 10 years, the city would expect to receive $138.8-million from 2010 to 2020. These are the biggest projects city officials are considering for that money:

New City Hall and parking garage - $25-million.

Municipal Marina parking garage - $12.5-million.

Downtown streetscaping - $25-million. (City Council members said this request was unrealistic.)

Police equipment shelter - $2.8-million.

Police traffic homicide investigation vehicle - $150,000.

Clearwater Beach fire station reconstruction - $4.1-million.

Lakeview Fire Station No. 47 reconstruction - $4.75-million.

Countryside fire station reconstruction - $4.6-million.

Widening of Highland Avenue from Union Street to Sunset Point Road - $2.5-million.

Realignment of Bayshore Boulevard north of Drew Street - $2.5-million.

Downtown parking - $6.25-million.

Redevelopment of Coachman Park - $5-million.

Renovations and improvements to youth sports fields - $7-million.

Renovations and improvements to neighborhood parks - $5-million.

Recreation trails - $3-million.

Countryside family aquatics center - $2.5-million.

Seawall replacement citywide - $1.25-million.

Countryside branch library expansion and renovation - $6.25-million.

East Branch library expansion and renovation - $6.25-million.

Library technology - $1.25-million.

Citywide wireless network - $3.125-million.

[Last modified May 31, 2006, 01:57:07]