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Politics

Dunedin revises spending plan

The tax rate drops by 13.3 percent, which affects jobs and services.

By TAMARA EL-KHOURY
Published July 6, 2007

DUNEDIN - The city's property tax rate would drop 13.3 percent and nine positions would be cut under a proposed spending plan released this week by Dunedin city staff.

Still unknown is whether the cutbacks will result in any layoffs. The proposed cuts come as the city responds to a mandate from the Florida Legislature to roll back property tax collections roughly 7 percent, or $1.3-million, next year.

The lower tax rate will mean a Dunedin home with a taxable value of $150, 000 and a homestead exemption, would pay roughly $443.64 in city taxes next year. A home with the same value this year paid roughly $511.68

Other cuts found in the $34-million operating budget proposed by City Manager Robert DiSpirito, which commissioners will discuss at three workshops next week:

- The city would reduce temporary staff, such as library aides and recreation workers.

- Outside organizations, the Dunedin Historical Society, the Neighborly Care Network, the art center and the Faith in Action group would each see a 20 percent reduction in aid from the city.

- The city would hire the Sheriff's Office less frequently for special events, going from 1, 000 hours to 750 hours, meaning several organizations will have to pay more when they throw a special event.

- The City Commission would cut its budget 9 percent, including scaling back promotional events such as Operation Twinkle, a roughly $26, 000 operation that lights up the city for Christmas.

- A 3 percent pay increase for employees, down from the 5 percent provided this year.

"I think that (DiSpirito) did a very good job of bringing us in I would say for a soft landing, " said commissioner Julie Scales. "We met the goal of trimming our budget by almost 14 percent."

The 2008 budget proposal is just $46, 000 higher than what the city expects to spend this year.

Reducing nine city staff positions through attrition and extending the current hiring freeze is expected to save the city $476, 500.

Some of the vacant positions that have been frozen include a special events coordinator, a fire inspector, a recreation supervisor and a storm water supervisor, according to Assistant City Manager Harry Gross.

Also scheduled for cuts are two positions in the city's streets and traffic control areas.

A civilian crime prevention specialist spot has been cut and those duties will be done by a deputy, Gross said.

Room was made in the budget to hire a second code enforcement officer.

Vice Mayor Deborah Kynes called the cuts fair and evenhanded.

"To the best of our ability, we'll preserve and protect the quality of life our citizens in Dunedin have come to expect, " she said.

Dunedin budget workshops

City Hall Chambers, 542 Main St., Dunedin.

Tuesday and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.; Friday, July 13, at 9 a.m.

[Last modified July 6, 2007, 07:00:07]