Sports agency chief gets raise

Henry Saavedra signs a contract to head the Tampa Sports Authority for three more years.

By KEVIN GRAHAM
Published July 24, 2007

TAMPA - The head of the Tampa Sports Authority got a new contract Monday that keeps him in place at least a year after the 2009 Super Bowl comes to town.

Authority board members tweaked Henry Saavedra's contract before extending his tenure as executive director for another three years. Saavedra has held the post for the last decade.

The board voted to increase his base salary from $200,000 a year to $205,000. But it froze a contract clause for 2007 that would have given Saavedra an additional 2.5 percent increase - a cost-of-living allotment approved for all Hillsborough County employees.

Jim Norman, chairman of the Hillsborough County Commission and a Sports Authority member, objected to Saavedra's car allowance. There had been no cap on an automobile expenditure in the past. An executive committee recommended setting the limit at $500 a month, but board members decreased it to $300.

The board set no limit on how much Saavedra could spend in other car-related costs, like gasoline. Norman wanted a system similar to county commissioners, who receive a flat auto allowance.

"The way things used to be aren't the way things are now," Norman said. "There's been tightening in a lot of areas."

He was unable to sway the board.

Board members also elected new officers for 2007-08. Kalyn Brandewie became the chairwoman, replacing Mark Proctor. Vincent Marchetti will serve as vice chairman, and Norman was elected secretary/treasurer.

Kevin Graham can be reached at 813 226-3433 or kgraham@sptimes.com

[Last modified July 24, 2007, 00:41:40]