Politics

Assessing the cuts

A look at the fallout from mandated budget cuts around the bay area

By TIMES STAFF
Published July 17, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Brian Cassella | Times] A girl in a Parks and Recreation program splashes around Monday at Cuscaden Pool, which cuts may close for part of the year.

As Tampa Bay area local governments respond to the Legislature's directives to reduce property tax collections and shave spending, they're targeting services and operations they've spent decades trying to develop - the ones they say make their communities better places to live and, in some cases, distinctive. They're slashing recreation center and library hours, code enforcement crews and nonprofit groups' funding.

"It looks like governments may be forced to redefine just what they do," Clearwater City Manager Bill Horne said. "Our core mission could change."

Others say local leaders are posturing and the threats to these services are designed to generate sympathy. And, still further, some believe it's too early to gauge whether the changes will have any impact.

Pinellas

The county is set to reduce its grant program to fund nonprofit youth athletic leagues by about $2-million.

Clearwater

The city is set to consolidate a library and a rec center and, possibly, outsource its six major recreation centers, which could lead to fewer programs and increased user fees. The city also is cutting back on beautification projects. The recreation department is a point of pride for Clearwater, which was positioned to be the only major Florida city that would spend more money on parks and recreation in 2007-08 than on fire services. Its spending would have been second only to police services

St. Petersburg

The city plans to cut millions for more than 200 social service and arts organizations; and slash 25 percent of its code enforcement staff, which could means longer response times. The code enforcement department, leaders boast, is one of the city's "great successes."

Hillsborough 

The county is seeking to curtail its code enforcement staff and shelve seven planned new libraries and 20 new parks or park expansions.

Tampa

Where cleaning and servicing neighborhoods has been a top priority, key jobs were cut in code enforcement and almost 10 percent of its parks and recreation department's budgeted work force was eliminated. The city plans to close two pools and cut summer reading and tennis programs.

Hernando

The county, which has a high retiree population, shelved plans to build an enrichment center for Oak Hill Hospital.

Pasco

The county cut a well-received concert series and travel to seminars that leaders say produced key programs. Libraries cut funding for out-of-town newspapers for snowbirds.

[Last modified July 17, 2007, 07:21:43]