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City Council lays out its priorities for staff
In the age of the tight belt, council members hope to protect public safety.
By Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer
Published March 9, 2008
ST. PETERSBURG - Pink slips, budget cuts and hiring freezes. Oh my. It's budget season again, and your elected officials have been asked to tell city staffers what their fiscal priorities are. In a year where city officials might have to reduce the general budget by $10-million, here is how your district representative advised city staffers at a recent council meeting: Herb Polson, District 1, said the city should protect high-traffic library hours, street maintenance projects, health care for retired employees, neighborhood grant programs and the codes compliance department. To bring in revenue, the staff should look into increasing parking ticket fines, which are some of the lowest in the Tampa Bay area. James Kennedy, District 2, said the city should protect funding for social services and its public safety departments. Bill Dudley, District 3, said the city should protect the public safety and recreation departments. Also, the city needs to make better use of its port, support low-income housing projects, continue its soft hiring freeze and look into consolidating some city services to reduce costs. Leslie Curran, District 4, said the city should protect its public safety, neighborhood services, Midtown, economic development and recreation programs. Jamie Bennett, District 5, said the city should protect its police and fire departments. He also said the council needs to reduce its food and travel budgets. He suggested that the city hire a grant writer to bring in more funding. He advocated for a foreclosure assistance program, a new police station paid for with Penny for Pinellas dollars, a renovated tennis center and traffic lights near Eckerd College. Earnest Williams, District 6, said the city should make better use of its port and maintain its staff. Wengay Newton, District 7, said the city should support summer employment programs for low-income youths and find a vendor for the Manhattan Casino. Jeff Danner, District 8, said the city should protect its public safety, codes and economic development departments. Also, it ought to continue funding arts and social services organizations and maintain its facilities. The council must approve the budget before it can take effect. Public hearings will be set after more is known about how much the city needs to slash. Cristina Silva can be reached at 727 893-8846 or csilva@sptimes.com.
[Last modified March 8, 2008, 01:59:05]
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by Dave
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03/11/08 10:26 AM
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Get rid if Penny for Pinellas and that stupid teacher tax, but institute a state wide additional 2% sales tax. Then tax only 50% of a primary home's value.
If you have any other questions, I am here to help.
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by jim
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03/11/08 06:56 AM
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Cut the extra "deputy mayors". Cut needless staff, cut code enforcement, cut arts, cut grants. The list of needless crap needs to go. Public safety is not telling someone the grass is to tall. Art is not public safety WAKE UP council!
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by don
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03/10/08 02:39 PM
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In reading the comments already listed it is obvious how our political leaders can become complacent, arrogant, greedy, follow their private agendas and mismanage our affairs. They live and prosper by an ignorant and uninformed populace.
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by how 2 save $
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03/10/08 06:04 AM
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Up the sales tax. Consumption should be taxed, not income.
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by Aaron
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03/09/08 09:46 PM
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gadfly how can you blame the rays for this. No money has exchanged hands yet. Noconstruction has started yet. St. Pete did this all by themselves. I think you can blame your parks and museums for this. They dont brimg in money to help the City.
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by DAVID
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03/09/08 01:21 PM
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People need to remember WE the people will tell the elected officials what to cut and what not to cut. To many articles written by this news paper lead reader's to forget their rights. People of ST.Pete tell your elected officials what U Want DONE.
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by Lin
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03/09/08 11:19 AM
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Florida needs to end this insanity and institute a state income tax and it should tax part-year residents of the state as well.
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by Lindsay
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03/09/08 09:28 AM
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A great way to boost revenue to maintain these programs would be to put videocameras on stop lights and start fining the large number of people who drive through red lights and endanger drivers, bikers, and pedestrians.
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by Gadfly
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03/09/08 08:53 AM
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Want to know where you can save money? Lots of money? Stop this dag-gum love affair with the Ray's stadium shell game. You're needing to slash 10-14 million from the budget and the Ray's owners are picking your pocket with a bull dozer. Wake up!!!!
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by Carol
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03/09/08 08:12 AM
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And we owe this to the genius, Crist. I will bet a month's wages that his staff is not cut. His eye has always been on the White House. If anyone truly believes he did the tax cuts for us, and not his own agenda, you are an absolute fool...
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