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Money is the root of council's problems
© St. Petersburg Times, A familiar adage in local government circles is that three votes beat a good argument. New Port Richey Council member Tom Finn has yet to figure that out. He needs to quickly. Finn packed up and walked out of a City Council work session on the upcoming budget, frustrated at his inability to persuade a majority to back his long-standing desire to improve the city's swimming pool. Finn also balked previously at targeting money from the sale of city property to cover the higher than expected construction costs of a new police station. Finn believes the money, particularly from the sale of the Shuffleboard Club, should remain available for redevelopment. The policy disagreements are genuine, but the juvenile antics that followed are not. Finn insulted fellow elected leaders, promised political payback and then told Times staff writer Jennifer Goldblatt he is considering resigning from the council after the budget discussions are concluded in the fall. Announcing plans to leave office just seven weeks after earning a hard-fought re-election is an injustice to voters, and is cause to question Finn's commitment to public service. It is reminiscent of his short-lived bid for County Commission last year, a campaign he announced and abandoned after just 14 months on the council. Finn said Thursday he would not resign until February at the earliest, allowing his seat to be filled in the April 2002 election. The atmosphere in New Port Richey is not rosy. The animosity between him, Mayor Wendy Brenner and council member Virginia Miller has brewed since Brenner's election 13 months ago. Finn backed Brenner's opponent, then was miffed when the new mayor grabbed the city's appointment to the Tampa Bay Water board. His flip-flop on a controversial paving assessment and the accompanying rhetoric aimed at the three-person majority didn't help. Finn, meanwhile, believes past spending priorities aren't being honored and that money from an earlier bond issue is being earmarked for other items. Finn needs to assess his own priorities because two projects he supports are proceeding. Funding for a skateboard park for city youths is within sight, and the city is committed to redevelopment via an expanded targeted area and the presence of an assistant city manager/redevelopment director approved by the council two years ago. Abandoning those council efforts because the mayor -- no matter how rude her manner -- cuts off debate during a meeting is short-sighted. The insults that followed are uncalled for. Personality clashes aside, the root of the frustration in New Port Richey is the city's financial picture. The tax base has not grown significantly and spending reserves to maintain steady property taxes is no longer viable. That has left harder choices on capital spending and other budget issues. It is more difficult to govern during austere times. Debate is healthy. But, the council as a whole needs to build consensus, not belligerence, if it is to be successful.
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