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Indian Rocks Beach mayor requesting $337,000 from county
Bill Ockunzzi says the county has the beaches to thank for maintaining its "No. 1 asset," and it's time to pay the bill.
By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA
Published July 19, 2006
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH - The city says Pinellas County should pay more than $300,000 to reimburse city taxpayers for maintaining the county's "No. 1 asset," the beach. This "respectful" request was outlined in a five-page letter to Pinellas County Commission Chairman Ken Welch and copied to every member of the commission, as well as the county administrator, the countywide Tourist Development Council and the Convention and Visitors Bureau. None of the officials or organizations have yet responded. The city's letter, written by Mayor Bill Ockunzzi, is just the latest salvo in the City Commission's continuing complaint - that the county returns little of the millions in tourist and property taxes paid by beach residents. "Pinellas County and the countywide agencies receive the lion's share of revenue generated from tourism and we pay the majority of the bills," Ockunzzi wrote. "I liken our situation to enjoying a pleasant lunch with short-armed friends when the server brings the check." Ockunzzi said Indian Rocks Beach taxpayers need both immediate financial assistance and "tax relief." "We cannot continue to pay for, essentially, the entire cost burden of maintaining the county's No. 1 asset," Ockunzzi said. He said the county should pay $132,000 for services now absorbed by city taxpayers. The city wants another $205,000 to pay for long-range planning and development, Red Tide cleanup and expansion of YMCA services to residents of unincorporated areas. Ockunzzi described the total $337,000 proposed contribution a "bargain" when compared to the $8.1-million in county property taxes paid by city residents this year, a $1.5-million increase over 2005. Specifically, Indian Rocks Beach wants: * $30,000 - Daily beach cleaning. * $25,000 - Street sweeping twice monthly. * $15,000 - Reimburse portion of the city's water bill attributable to beach showers. * $10,000 - Security patrols on the beach and at beach parking areas. * $25,000 - Welcome Center costs previously paid by the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce. * $15,000 - Historical Museum operating costs. * $150,000 - Beach-related planning and development of facilities including restrooms, crosswalks, bike and pedestrian facilities, bus shelters, signage, boat slips and marinas. * $25,000 - Future Red Tide cleanup costs * $30,000 - YMCA funding. Ockunzzi says since the beaches are the reason more than 90 percent of visitors come to Pinellas County, the county has an obligation to reimburse beach cities and taxpayers for the money for maintenance. "Indian Rocks Beach leads the way in providing for access to the beach for residents and visitors," Ockunzzi said. "Bottom line, we are proud to be situated at the epicenter of Pinellas County's tourism and recreation efforts but we cannot afford the burden such responsibilities place on our residents."
[Last modified July 19, 2006, 07:38:55]
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