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Mayor considers options to House tax proposals

St. Petersburg's mayor wants cuts to be more modest to prevent a budget crisis for the city.

By AARON SHAROCKMAN
Published March 30, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Fearful the tax plans proposed in Tallahassee could devastate his city, Mayor Rick Baker is drafting alternatives that could offer relief to property owners and spare local governments a budget crisis.

Baker said Thursday he is mulling several proposals aimed at blunting the more sweeping plans being discussed in the state House.

Among them are plans that would assess homestead property at 70 percent of market value and cap the values of property without a homestead.

City officials say that one idea - dropping a homeowner's assessed value by 30 percent - would make it easier for potential first-time homebuyers.

"We're looking at a lot of different things," Baker said.

St. Petersburg's response is part of a larger effort by local governments to show they're doing more than complaining about the House's proposed changes.

Baker said he will likely return to Tallahassee in 10 days to meet with lawmakers. The city's proposals, which are still being vetted at the staff level, have yet to be floated in Tallahassee.

"I'm not sure which one it's going to be yet; it won't be the House plan," said Baker, referring to House Speaker Marco Rubio's plan to roll back city budgets and eliminate property taxes for many homeowners.

As Baker considers his options, dozens of local elected officials returned from Tallahassee on Thursday sure that some tax cut would be passed.

In St. Petersburg, they worried about the potential worst case scenario - the House plan, which could cost the city $22.7-million, officials said.

Internal Services Administrator Mike Connors said that to make up for that loss, the city would have to lay off nearly 20 percent (380 positions) of its workforce.

It also would be forced to make a litany of program cuts. The city presented several examples Thursday during a City Council workshop

The city port would be closed, as would a fire station, city libraries, recreation centers and pools, officials said.

The city's code enforcement program would be sliced in half, its Midtown programs would be eliminated, as would subsidies to the Pier, the Mahaffey Theater and Albert Whitted Airport.

It's unlikely those properties could survive long without the city's support.

City Council members worried that without public outcry, local governments stand little chance.

"People need to get excited," council member Bill Foster said.

Legislators, Foster said, understand the inequities they're creating. But, "they don't care."

Staff writer Alex Leary contributed to this report.

[Last modified March 30, 2007, 00:35:23]