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Tax cut group warns the city

Council members hear lots of advice on the next budget.

By EDDY RAMIREZ
Published February 9, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - They're back.

Cut Taxes Now, a citizens' group born out of the public outcry over property taxes last fall, put the St. Petersburg City Council on notice Thursday that they will be watching closely how the city shapes next year's budget.

The group's call for tax relief came during the city's first meeting to discuss budget priorities and a day after Hillsborough County passed a policy to limit increases to its own spending that comes from property taxes.

City Council members listened attentively to the citizens' pleas and said they would be judicious in how they spend tax dollars.

Lynne Shelby, a 30-year resident of St. Petersburg, was among those who urged the city to follow in the footsteps of Hillsborough County and limit how much the city can increase the amount of property taxes it spends.

"The property taxes are killing me," she said. "I may have to move from this area because you are chasing me away from my home."

Last fall, the City Council passed a $569-million budget with the lowest tax rate since 1986. But residents complained that, while the tax rate went down, they still paid more in taxes because property values went up by so much. The city took in 12 percent more in property tax dollars than the year before.

Sara Lopez, a business owner in St. Petersburg who is affiliated with the group, ran down a list of ways the city can cut spending that ranged from letting city workers opt out of an insurance plan to ending subsidies for Tropicana Field.

Council member Rene Flowers seemed skeptical the city could lower its spending in the face of soaring insurance, health care and utility costs as well as federal cuts in funding to support affordable housing in Florida. But she said she would review the areas where the group proposes the city slash spending.

The final budget is passed in September.

Eddy Ramirez can be reached at eramirez@sptimes.com

[Last modified February 9, 2007, 01:41:41]