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Politics

County cranks up push for Penny

Advocates for the Penny for Pinellas special tax begin a blitz on what's been achieved and what else is possible.

By ANNE LINDBERG
Published September 24, 2006

SEMINOLE - The county is in election mode already, busily touting the merits of an extension of a one-cent sales tax even though the referendum is six months away.

The county brought its Penny for Pinellas campaign to Seminole on Wednesday. It was one of four information sessions in the first round of a blitz designed to persuade voters of the Penny's merits.

Held in the auditorium at the Seminole Recreation Center, each county department put up a booth with an explanation of what they do and what projects are possible with the estimated $1.94-billion the extended Penny would generate between 2010 and 2020. Some projects were written on a poster with spaces for county residents to place sticky dots under the one they liked the best.

At the exit, attendees could "vote" on whether they would support the Penny extension if the election were held now. At the Seminole meeting, there were 47 who said they would vote in favor and two who said they'd vote against. Those were similar to another drop-in the county held Monday in Indian Rocks Beach. There, 30 said yes and two said no.

The city of Seminole also had a booth showing what the Penny has done and could do if extended. Seminole stands to receive an estimated $22.4-million.

The meeting's format received generally good reviews.

"This is very personable. This is a nice way to connect with people," Seminole council member Patricia Hartstein said.

She liked it so much that she said the city should use the format when it asks residents for comment on upcoming projects.

But some, like Dick Newman of Palm Harbor, were less impressed with the proposed projects themselves. Most, he said, seemed earmarked for maintenance of existing amenities, such as the Pinellas Trail.

"I'd certainly like a different mix of projects," said Newman, a retired employee of United Air Lines.

He said he understood that one of the selling points for the Penny extension is that tourists' dollars will account for a lot of the income. But, Newman said, things that will attract tourists are not among the proposed projects.

The county, he said, should develop more museums and other attractions for tourists that local residents could also enjoy. Improving the county's appearance would improve the quality of life for residents while making the area more attractive to those from outside the area.

In that same vein, Newman said the county should be putting money into research to prevent Red Tide because its presence is bad for the community and a reason for tourists to go elsewhere.

Also lacking, he said, are projects that would help schools and any money for the county's libraries.

But Newman said he would still vote to extend the Penny because he felt he had no choice. No extension would be no projects, he said.

Seminole resident Miles Sawyer was excited about plans for a senior center.

As it is, Sawyer said he and his friends go to the center in Largo.

"I'm not happy, but what can you do?" Sawyer asked. "They've treated us well down there."

Sawyer said he had offered in the past to be on a committee to help develop a senior center, but, after meeting once with Seminole officials for about 15 minutes, the issue seemed to die.

If you're interested

Pinellas County will hold two more information sessions about the Penny for Pinellas.

- Tuesday at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom, 5500 Shore Blvd. S., Gulfport.

- Wednesday at the Palm Harbor Parks and Recreation Community Activity Center, 1500 16th St., Palm Harbor.

Both are drop-in style sessions. Officials will be there to answer questions and listen to comments from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. both days.

For information about the Penny for Pinellas, go to www.pinellascounty.org/penny. To book a Penny speaker for your community group, call 464-3000.

[Last modified September 24, 2006, 09:11:26]