The real (e)state of your taxes

By TIMES STAFF
Published July 16, 2007

	Mayors Frank Hibbard, left, of Clearwater, Pam Iorio of Tampa and Rick Baker of St. Petersburg discuss issues common to their respective cities at a 2005 luncheon at the Vinoy Renaissance Resort.
[Times photo: Willie J. Allen Jr. (2005)]

Where it comes to property taxes, city governments make the point all the time: If you think it's bad here, why don't you check that other city?

So we did.

The Times asked each of the area's three biggest cities a series of questions about how much it charges for services and how much it pays its employees.

It costs more, it turns out, to turn on the water in St. Petersburg, but less for health care. Clearwater gets a good rate on an oil change, but spends any savings on employee health care. And Tampa's the place to join a softball league or serve on the City Council.

	Clearwater	Tampa	St. Pete
Population	110,602	332,888	253,856
Your taxes
2007 tax rate	5.2088	6.408	6.6
Tax rate since 2002	-5.35%	-2%	-7.56%
Property taxes per resident	$479.20	$490.21	$423.85
Property taxes per resident 2002	$257.25	$289.46	$268.64
Your city
Employees	1,862	5,000	2,805
Residents for each employee	59	66	91
Rookie firefighter/paramedic salary	$42,388	$40,510	$41,098
Police chief's salary	$116,632	$145,642	$146,400
Employees making more than $100,000	9	101	55
City Council member salary	$18,320	$40,250	$39,330
Mayor/city manager's computer last replaced	2007	2003	2004
Health care cost per employee	$6,400	$4,370	$4,312
Ceremonial golden shovel *	$55	under $20	$23.72
Oil change	$15.95	$25	$24.91
Your costs .
Overdue library book per day	$.10	N/A**	$.15
Swimming pool admission	$1.87-$5.61	No charge	$2-$2.50
Softball league (team)	$425	$240	$320
Turning on the water	$20	$30	$30
* All three cities use regular shovels and spray-paint them gold. The shovels then return to service. ** The library system in Tampa is run by Hillsborough County.

Compiled by Aaron Sharockman, Mike Donila and Janet Zink 

[Last modified July 16, 2007, 01:47:02]