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Penny tax adds up to project wishes
Commissioners have decided how they would spend $91.6-million in the sales tax if voters renew it for 10 more years.
By LORRI HELFAND
Published August 12, 2006
LARGO - The city unveiled its wish list for projects to be funded by an extension of the Penny for Pinellas sales tax. At Tuesday's work session, city commissioners discussed what they would do with $91.6-million if voters renew the tax for 2010 to 2020. The list of more than 20 projects includes a new $23-million facility at Highland Recreation Complex. The complex, which was built in 1972, is the city's busiest recreation center. Largo hopes to build a new 60,000-square-foot facility there and a pool house at the complex's aquatic center to serve central Largo and newly annexed properties to the east. Other key projects include a $7-million police training center, and two new fire rescue stations totaling $4.2-million. The city also wants to put tax revenues toward $10.5-million in roadway improvements, such as new trails and bike paths and a network of citywide sidewalks. Commissioners Rodney Woods and Gay Gentry said the new trails and bike paths would help reconnect the neighborhoods. Commissioner Mary Gray Black said she thought city staff supplied a worthy list, but that she wanted more detail before committing to it. The wish list projects total $84.4-million, allowing wiggle room for rising construction costs, officials said. Commissioners will vote Tuesday whether to approve the list and submit it to the county. Pinellas voters will decide whether to renew the tax on March 13. The additional one-cent sales tax is expected to bring in nearly $2-billion countywide over 10 years. Pinellas County plans to use just over half the revenue itself, with at least $200 million earmarked for criminal justice facilities. The rest will be divided among the other municipalities. The penny tax was started in 1990 and renewed in 1997. Its proceeds are primarily used for projects dealing with public facilities, roads, flood control, park improvements, preservation of endangered lands and public safety. The city has used revenues from the Penny for Pinellas tax for the purchase and renovation of the City Hall complex and toward projects such as the new Largo Public Library, Largo Central Park, Highland Family Aquatic Center and Largo Cultural Center. Largo's wish list Construction of new Highland Recreational Complex: $23-million Public safety vehicles: $12-million Public safety training center: $7-million New East Largo fire rescue station: $2.8-million New fire rescue station in the Belleair Bluffs area: $1.4-million Fire Rescue EMS Supply Storage Facility: $700,000 McKay Creek drainage improvements: $1.1-million Long Branch drainage basin project: $1.5-million Purchase of frequently flooded properties: $2.2-million Conversion of drainage ponds to park lands: $3-million Ponce De Leon Boulevard drainage improvements: $600,000 Development of portion of Largo Central Park: $2.5-million Land purchase for green space: $5-million Construction of new parks division building: $2.3-million Expansion of Largo Cultural Center: $2.5-million Senior citizen facilities enhancements: $2-million Skate pad on the east side of Largo: $500,000 Largo Datsko Park enhancements (Phase III): $300,000 Largo Central Park tot area playground: $100,000 Trail and bike paths: $2.5-million Master sidewalk plan implementation: $4-million Citywide roadway and pedestrian and bike trails: $4-million
[Last modified August 12, 2006, 07:10:11]
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