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Letter to the editor

Reduce taxes, reduce controversy

Last year's noisy budget meeting is replaced with peace and quiet, thanks to planning.

By MIKE DONILA, Times Staff Writer
Published August 15, 2007

CLEARWATER - This time last year, local leaders were virtually besieged.

Angry taxpayers sent e-mails by the dozens, lit up City Hall's telephones and crowded into budget meetings. They all said the same thing:

Cut taxes.

Now compare that outpouring with Monday night's City Council budget meeting.

Three people spoke. And no one brought up anything that couldn't be worked out.

"When taxes are up, attendance is up," said new council member Paul Gibson, who was one of a number of residents upset last year with the council. "When taxes are down, attendance is down."

The City Council this year signed off on a new millage rate, reducing it by 10.2 percent to 4.6777 mills in 2008 from 5.2088 mills in 2007 - just enough to meet the state Legislature's mandate to roll back total property tax collections about 7 percent.

The council was also able to keep funding in place for three recreation centers, a library and a series of special events, all initially slated for the chopping block.

Mayor Frank Hibbard attributed the success this year to a city staff and council that prepared well in advance for state cuts.

While local governments throughout the Tampa Bay region were still putting their budgets together, Clearwater's spending plan was already ironed out, with roughly $7-million in spending cuts.

So it was a lot easier, the mayor said, to restore some services to the proposed budget once the city had a clearer picture about what mandates the state was going to impose.

Residents seem to recognize that, said longtime city critic Anne Garris, who Monday night thanked the council for consolidating the beach recreation center with the beach library rather than closing both.

"I appreciate you understanding the tremendous value the center and library have in our community," she said.

Still, the public has two more chances to speak, at 6 p.m. on Sept. 6 and Sept. 20 at Clearwater City Hall, 112 S Osceola Ave.

Mike Donila can be reached at mdonila@sptimes.com or 445-4160.

[Last modified August 14, 2007, 21:51:26]