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Politics

Dunedin softens cuts for groups

Commissioners give up some of their own budget funds to lower not-for-profits' cuts.

By TAMARA EL-KHOURY
Published July 12, 2007

DUNEDIN - Just one day into their work on next year's budget, city commissioners on Tuesday reduced by half proposed cuts for not-for-profit groups and made up part of the difference by cutting their own travel budget.

Tuesday night's workshop, the first of three this week, marks the beginning of the commission's annual ritual of deciding how the city of Dunedin will spend the $34-million in operating funds starting Oct. 1.

But this year's negotiations are expected to be far more contentious due to a mandate by the Florida Legislature that local governments roll back property tax collections next year. Dunedin will collect roughly 7 percent or $1.3-million less in 2007-08.

City staff initially recommended cutting grants to not-for-profit organizations by 20 percent for total of more than $32,000 in savings. But the commission Tuesday directed staff to slash funding to each of four nonprofits by only 10 percent, or $16,300.

And commissioners also decided to take a cut themselves by staying home more. They opted to save $10,000 by cutting their individual $4,000 travel budgets in half.

The commissioners made the change after being lobbied by some of the four nonprofits facing cuts: Neighborly Care Network, Faith in Action and the city's art center and historical society.

With a 10 percent reduction from the 2007 budget, the Dunedin Historical Society and Museum is set to receive $54,000 from the city next year, $6,000 more than the city staff originally recommended.

Society executive director Vincent Luisi said he felt the organization could handle a 20 percent cut, but that the quality of exhibits may suffer as a result.

But the art center's executive director, George Ann Bissett, told the commission a 20 percent reduction would cut deep. The city's annual grant enables several groups to meet at the art center without charge and provides scholarships, she said.

"That's going to affect us very much indeed," she said.

With the 10 percent cut, the proposal is for the art center to get $65,700 from the city in cash grants. The center also gets in-kind donations from the city in the form of utilities, maintenance, etc. The art center operates on a $1.1-million budget.

While Commissioner Julie Ward Bujalski thought the 20 percent cut was fair, Mayor Bob Hackworth called it "drastic."

And Commissioner Deborah Kynes said 20 percent was a big cut especially with the emphasis on economic development by city leaders.

"Arts and culture and history is part of economic development," she said.

Commissioner Dave Eggers said organizations are going to have to be more creative to find funding as a wave of more cuts may be eminent in the future. Florida voters are set to decide in January whether to approve a new Super Homestead exemption that would cut property tax collections for local governments even further.

[Last modified July 11, 2007, 22:04:33]