Northpinellas: 'Penny' has done much for Pinellas

I find myself growing weary of the negatives surrounding the proposed continuation of the Penny for Pinellas. What about all the good "Penny" has done?

While Pinellas County may not be perfect, we are truly blessed to live in an area that provides an abundance of quality of life venues. Every day I have an opportunity to think about what good fortune we all have to live here.

Pinellas County did not become a destination of choice by accident. The Penny for Pinellas has made a significant difference in our ability to attract visitors and at the same time provide for the needs of our citizens.

The Penny pays for capital improvements such as roads, parks, endangered land preservation, government facilities, etc.

Pinellas County may be "built out," but we are unique in that the county has, in its wisdom, set aside many acres of beautiful, dedicated green space for our collective enjoyment. Our county park system has become the envy of many, thanks in part to Penny for Pinellas.

Our many sports facilities located throughout Pinellas County provide state-of-the-art venues for men, women and children of all ages to participate and compete. Baseball, softball, soccer, golf, basketball, tennis, etc. Thanks in part to Penny for Pinellas.

For years, our citizens were starved for cultural opportunities. We have a year-round venue in beautiful Ruth Eckerd Hall that responds to our growing need for quality entertainment. Thanks in part to Penny for Pinellas.

We have one of the finest EMS systems in the country. We have the assurance that when a loved one is in need of immediate medical attention, qualified help will be there. Thanks in part to Penny for Pinellas.

The Bayside Bridge is a huge convenience for those traveling north and south. Thanks in part to Penny for Pinellas.

Our Pinellas Trail has become a venue that attracts people from all over the country. It enjoys an outstanding reputation as a quality attraction for bikers, in-line skaters, walkers, runners and those who enjoy traversing cross-country. Thanks to Penny for Pinellas.

For those who must travel our road systems on a daily basis, we have seen significant improvements to Belcher Road, Keene Road and U.S. 19. Thanks to Penny for Pinellas.

I am proud of the amenities "Penny" provides for residents and visitors alike. People from all over the country would like to live here, and, every day, many change their official residence to Pinellas County.

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Comments on this article

by John	03/12/07 11:31 PM
Total property taxes levied in Pinellas by all taxing authorities in 2000: $727,490,047.65 2001: $798,278,101.34 2002: $863,290,768.93 2003: $930,059,538.17 2004: $1,020,222,020.86 2005: $1,179,072,605.50 2006: $1,341,313,095.84

by william	03/10/07 10:14 PM
No more pennies, we've had enough,what do you think we're made of? Not tons of money, to line the pockets of the government

by Mike	03/10/07 01:21 PM
$163,000,000 increase in prop tax income last year. 63 pcent catastrophe reserve(?), 16 pcent social services, 11 pcent public safety. Nice to no that our money is being spent wisely. BTW, shouldn't public safety be more important than soc. services?

by Drew Finn	03/10/07 12:30 AM
Defeat "the penny" this week. We are all tired of taxes, and this is a rare chance to actually decide on one, instead of having it shoved down our throats. What part of " NO " do they not understand?

by Sharon	03/09/07 11:54 PM
There comes a time for all "good things" to end and I think, along with many others, that The Penny for Pinellas has outlived it's usefulness. High insurance, taxes, and gas prices has left little for the tax payers in Pinellas to give.

by kevin	03/09/07 04:52 PM
paul check out the supporters GOP superstars...liberals don't want it.

by paul	03/09/07 01:40 PM
cont'd- hangover. they got by before w/out the penny,they can get by again w/out it. what is needed is accountable management of funds.

by paul	03/09/07 01:37 PM
elias, you are one of those tree hugging lib's and what is money made out of?right,trees. folks don't let these greety liberal dems do what they did in pasco a couple of yrs ago. they snuck that penny past the snoozing voters and they woke up w/a tax

by John	03/09/07 01:32 PM
Systemic and ongoing lack of accountability combined with the fact the penny program was supposed to be a one shot deal, but now our politicians are hooked on the case so it keeps going and going, are two great reasons to say NO TO THE PENNY!

by Gil	03/09/07 12:34 PM
Hmmmm....let me see if I have this right. If I vote "Yes" more people will be drawn to Pinellas County? So my roads will get more clogged which in turn will slow down responding EMS units. Thank you, Bud, you've made my decision much easier.

by kevin	03/09/07 11:49 AM
How bout a story where you randomly ask non power brokers(common locals)both at a pp funded area and then at the major malls or local event what they think, not a poll but a story minus the stats massaged dataand run the story Monday before the vote.

by Kay	03/09/07 10:47 AM
Thanks in part to... how about completely funding entire projects so you can say...Your 1% tax fully funded this - it would not be here without your generosity. They have failed in the accounting. I wish I had a fountain in my yard but can't - budget

by brittnay	03/09/07 09:29 AM
hay this is a good artical =]

by V	03/09/07 09:09 AM
I would favor an extention of the 1% tax if it weren't for the fact that local governments have almost DOUBLED their revenues in the last 5 years. This tax was sold to us as temporary. There is SO much wasteful spending, it's sickening.

by Jen	03/09/07 09:06 AM
This program has reached its end. Too much abuse going on. Our commissioners can't even account for all the money anymore! Must be nice not to have a real budget to follow! How much have they spent already on all the promotion/signs popping up? Hmmm

by Jim	03/09/07 08:56 AM
If M. Rubio's proposal to replace homestead property tax with a 2.5% addition to our sales tax succeeds, and I hope it does. Do we want this addtional 1% sales tax as well. In the last two years Pinellas budget has increased 60% or $300 Million.

by Vickie	03/09/07 08:29 AM
Anytime a program mis leads people with their title a red flag should go up. Pennies for Pinellas is 1 % it should be Thousands fo Pinellas but if they said that you would never vote for their program of mis use funds. Show me where you want to spend

by Gary	03/09/07 08:25 AM
Yes, Bud you are right it has done some good in the past. But like all public funded programs the longer they last the more abuse you see in the program. Are you aware of how much of this money is to fund the jails and the promoting of the program?

by Lexie	03/09/07 08:19 AM
I use to live in Tampa area & let me tell you -- the traffic and roads left me frustrated every day. I have lived in Clearwater for a few years now and I'm glad the penny is going to roads that I enjoy driving on & that don't leave me angry in the am

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'Penny' has done much for Pinellas