Northpinellas: Phillies trip is still on for mayor, council

Clearwater city leaders have talked for months of budget cuts. But one thing not on the block: an all-expenses-paid baseball trip to Philadelphia.

Council members and two city managers will meet with Phillies owners and watch Mayor Frank Hibbard throw out the first pitch of a game.

It's an annual ritual since the Phillies made Clearwater their spring training home 61 years ago. But this year's two-night trip, expected to cost taxpayers at least $4, 700, comes as council members bemoan the city's fiscal future.

State lawmakers later this month are expected to limit the amount of property taxes local governments can collect, and already Clearwater has targeted recreation centers, jobs and a library branch for the chopping block.

One of Clearwater's own council members, newly elected Paul Gibson, said he's going, but paying his own way.

But other Clearwater officials say the trip is a worthy expense to nurture a relationship with a business that spends $7-million in Clearwater each year.

Officials plan to attend games tonight and Saturday and meet today with team owners to discuss ways to increase revenue at Clearwater's Bright House Networks Field, the mayor said.

Accompanying the council at taxpayer expense will be City Manager Bill Horne and Assistant City Manager Garry Brumback. Several city officials' spouses, along with a contingent from the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, are also on the trip, but are paying their own way.

The city's costs: airfare on Southwest Airlines, roughly $100 per ticket; hotel rooms, $216 each night at a Marriott; daily food allowance for officials, per city policy, $64 each.

While State Rep. Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, has joined other lawmakers in bashing local governments for burgeoning local budgets, he argued the trip will pay for itself.

"The Phillies give a lot back to this community, " said Hooper, who also went on such trips while he was a Clearwater commissioner.

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by Wallace	06/01/07 09:28 PM
Get rid of Hibbard, Peterson, and Doran next election. We need to start fresh and maybe the new council members will see the light and get rid of Horne. THE WASTE MUST STOP!!!!

by Robbie	06/01/07 05:28 PM
If city employees are mandated to go to a training class they share a room will these guys guys be sharing? If not they should be paying for thier own rooms and by the way out of area training has been put on hold

by Mayberry	06/01/07 04:04 PM
Tarnation alive. Andy, Barney, Gomer, and Aunt Bea are going over yonder to Phil-I-Delph-I-A. Dang if they ain't just hayseeds in the big city. Hope they don't lose their simple ways, you know what those bright lights and fast times can do to folk.

by Jeff	06/01/07 02:46 PM
I have been on previous Phillie trips (paid by me). I can tell you first hand that is nothing but a FREE VACATION for the elected officials. All they have to do is cover airfare for family members. There is NO business going on.

by John	06/01/07 01:12 PM
4700 here 4700 there - next thing you know we're talking about real dollars! Before they threaten to cut police they should cut all these perks from the budget. Collectively I bet they're worth a good amount of dough.

by Frank	06/01/07 11:41 AM
I just want to go to a Phillies game.

by Derek	06/01/07 11:28 AM
Bright House Field is an asset to the community with much more potential. $4700 is a splash in the pan. How about getting mad at the million dollar roundabout on the beach.

by Lorraine	06/01/07 10:53 AM
Kathy, those 3 families would have to spend $100,000 to generate enough tourist tax revenue to repay that $4700 to the city. If your point was valid, why not pay $4700 to anyone who can get 3 families to come here? Weak argument. Clearwater employee?

by Joe	06/01/07 10:44 AM
Kathy writes-"If 3 families at the Phillies games see the mayor and decide to take a vacation to Clearwater, local businesses will easily make this money back." Yeah, the mayor is a real tourist attraction. Do you work for him?

by Jimmy	06/01/07 10:41 AM
I'm paying 5 figure's in taxes so this moron mayor can throw out a ball at my expense...vote these idiots out!!!!

by Jimmy	06/01/07 10:38 AM
When are we ever going to get rid of these officials, led by Hibbard who is clueless and only wastes taxpayer money

by John	06/01/07 10:36 AM
a "worthy" trip my butt. These are the guys who still think government is there to serve their purposes. I hope the voters remember this at election time and send them packing.

by Tim	06/01/07 10:27 AM
OK, this isn't an "outrage." It's business. But, Why do so many people have to go? Why not just the mayor & 1 other person? CLW needs the Phillies. You have to spend $$$ to make $$$. I'm sure there's $$$ to be cut elsewhere. This trip should be a go.

by Karen	06/01/07 10:24 AM
I can't believe Hibbard is so tone deaf to the impropriety of this! He and Horne are a couple of Nero's fiddling while their city disintegrates. The realities of 2007 Clearwater are lost on these dithering doofuses! They just don't have a clue!

by Jeff	06/01/07 10:19 AM
They raise our taxes and this is how we spend the money. Someone needs to start giving the taxpayers money back.

by Kathy	06/01/07 10:09 AM
SERIOUSLY! We're talking about a big $4,700!! This is a miniscule amount for the city. If 3 families at the Phillies games see the mayor and decide to take a vacation to Clearwater, local businesses will easily make this money back. Cmon people!

by Judy	06/01/07 09:55 AM
Officials plan to attend games tonight and Saturday and meet today with team owners to discuss ways to increase revenue at Clearwater's Bright House Networks Field, the mayor said. You expect us to believe that?

by Tony	06/01/07 09:49 AM
How about a breakdown of the estimated $4700? I am not sure the whole city council mayor city manager and assitant city manager need to be in on this trip. We are getting fleeced. Why do we put up with it? They all know we forget before election day

by John	06/01/07 09:45 AM
This is a slap in the face to the citizens of Cleartwater. Spring training does very well and we do not need this trip to improve it. Where was the budget committee for this; in the control of management. Thank you Paul Gibson for paying your own.

by Carol	06/01/07 09:35 AM
For pete's sakes, have MLB pay for all of this stuff, new stadiums, etc. The people (us) that make all of these people rich (too rich) always have to pay - either by $$$ or losing a team. I went to the game on Wednesday. Fat cats (teams & players)pay

by Peggy	06/01/07 08:45 AM
The Phillies treat their Clearwater guests as VIP's. They provide tickets to the games in the owners box, meals, unlimited alcohol, goody bags stuffed with souvenirs. I wonder if these "gifts" are declared income by the elected officials. Ethics?

by Susan	06/01/07 08:40 AM
It's amazing that a part time mayor (which Hibbard is)feels the need to make this trip annually while full time, strong mayors do not.

by Mike	06/01/07 07:35 AM
$4700 for 2 nights??? How could that be???

by Lawrence	06/01/07 07:35 AM
Talk about skewed priorities! City Hall worships at the alter of the golden trough of tax revenues. They're too disconnected from reality to see how angry their "keep our pay & perks, cut your services" crap is making us. When's the next election?

by Crystal	06/01/07 07:28 AM
Roundtrip airfare to Philly $300, Economy Rental Car $100, 2 Nights at Motel 6 $65: Ripping Off Taxpayers, Priceless

by Leah	06/01/07 06:57 AM
Amazing....they can remember to go to a Phillies game in another state but they can't remember to fix a bridge in their own back yard...both which cost the tax payer money...it boggles the mind!

by Linda	06/01/07 06:50 AM
This is an outrage!!! No wonder our taxes are so high - and it's not limited only to Clearwater - it's all over the country. Imagine what can be saved by eliminating these frivolous trips. I have to pay for everything I have - why not them!!!

Politics

Phillies trip is still on for mayor, council

Clearwater won't put its annual visit on a budget diet. The city will spend at least $4,700 on a trip to a Phillies game.