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St. Petersburg to cut 50 jobs, spending

The wide-ranging cuts are a result of the state tax overhaul approved last week.

By AARON SHAROCKMAN
Published June 23, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG -- The city will lay off 50 government workers and eliminate an additional 20 unfilled jobs, Mayor Rick Baker said Friday, delivering what officials promised would be the grisly impact of the state's mandated budget cuts.

The layoffs will affect more than 15 city departments, including the library system, parks departments and the mayor's office. In concert with other budget cuts, the work force reduction will trim nearly $13.8-million from next year's budget if approved by the City Council.

The wide-ranging cuts are among the first specific consequences of the state tax overhaul passed last week and signed by Gov. Charlie Crist into law Thursday. In Tampa, Mayor Pam Iorio said Friday her government also would be laying off employees.

In St. Petersburg, library and adult recreation center hours will be reduced and recreation user fees will increase, Baker said.

The mayor also proposed eliminating $2.55-million in city subsidies that serve more than 200 local social service, not-for-profit and arts organizations.

Baker said the cuts may lower the city's tax rate about 12 percent starting Oct. 1. That would translate to about $125 in savings for a city homeowner with a $200,000 home.

The budget is subject to City Council approval; the layoffs are not.

"This is not an easy time for the city," Baker told council members during a work session that drew so much attention it had to be moved into the main council chambers. "But our city has been through not easy times before."

Layoffs had always been a possibility, but Baker had not said publicly before Friday how many jobs would be cut from the city's 3,000-person work force.

Department managers, and in some cases the mayor himself, began informing employees of the news this week.

Most of the positions will be eliminated before the new budget year begins Oct. 1, Baker said.

Employees who lose jobs will receive a severance package, up to three months' pay for longtime employees and a month's salary for relatively new hires.

It's little consolation for those soon out of a job, said Charles Clark, trustee with the Service Employees International Union Local 220, which represents 1,800 city employees.

Clark said the union will meet with city officials Tuesday in hopes of stopping at least some job losses.

"We would really liked to have had or have an opportunity to look at other ways to reduce the budget as opposed to laying off workers," Clark said.

A list of specific employees being forced out was not available Friday, city officials said.

Twelve members of the city's code enforcement staff -- one-fourth of the department -- will be laid off. Eight positions in the development services department are being eliminated, as are five full-time library jobs, officials said.

Employees remaining, excluding police officers and firefighters, will receive 2 percent pay increases next year.

Although that money -- $2.3-million -- would have saved jobs, Baker said it would have made it more difficult for the city to compete for qualified employees.

"You could have probably frozen salaries and let fewer people go," said Baker, who already has cut 57 city positions since taking office in 2001, including a series of layoffs in 2002.

"But my position is we have great employees in the city," he said. "I want to make sure we keep great employees in the city. They have choices, too."

The mayor distributed a six-page list of proposed budget cuts and fee increases. The list dealt with the big -- eliminating $2.55-million in outside spending -- and the small.

Among the cuts were $4,800 the city spends on a suite at Tropicana Field, $5,000 for an exchange program with St. Petersburg's Japanese sister city and half of the City Council's $40,000 travel budget.

Baker proposed raising fees at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, swimming pool facilities and youth camps.

Fees may also rise to use marina and airport facilities and to park downtown. Specific rate increases were not discussed.

The city projected its general fund budget to remain flat at a total of $223.9-million.

On Friday, City Council members suggested more places spending could be reduced, while some fought to restore funding for some outside agencies.

"After we get through this, there's still going to be fallout," said council member Jeff Danner, saying cutting social service funding may create more crime and neighborhood problems.

Baker told council members the state has left the city little choice. "The reality is you and I don't have the ability to print money," Baker said.

Aaron Sharockman can be reached at asharockman@sptimes.com or (727) 892-2273.

FAST FACTS: Effects of mayor's budget proposal
The mayor presented his budget proposal Friday. It included:

• Layoffs: 70 full-time and 18 part-time positions will be eliminated; 12 full-time positions will be cut from code enforcement.
• Increased fees: Recreation, swimming fees will increase; so might downtown parking fees.
• Decreased services: Library and adult recreation center hours will be shortened; neighborhood grants cut in half.
• Social services: A $2.55-million cut (First Night, Florida Orchestra, Creative Clay, St. Petersburg Pregnancy Center -- more than 200 groups in all).

FAST FACTS: Other cities' plans
Here's where other Tampa Bay area governments budget planning stands:

• Clearwater: Releasing budget book to City Council June 30. Looking for about $7.5-million in cuts.
• Tampa: Meeting Tuesday. Mayor Pam Iorio said Friday government employees will be laid off.
• Pinellas Park: Draft budget moving through a citizens' review committee.
• Dunedin: Workshops scheduled next month.
• Pinellas County: Planning to rely mainly on reserves. Commissioners meet Tuesday.
• Hillsborough County: Still digesting impact. Commissioners on recess until next month.

[Last modified June 23, 2007, 01:07:50]