Senior center changes request

Days after saying the Palm Harbor Senior Activity Center needs $111,000 in tax funds, its director more than doubles the figure.

By ROBERT FARLEY

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 28, 2000

PALM HARBOR -- Upon further review, Irene Rausch says the Palm Harbor Senior Activity Center will need more than double the taxpayer assistance she said it would need last week.

Rausch, the center's executive director, said in an interview last week the center would need a taxpayer subsidy of $111,000 next year. On Tuesday, however, she said that information was preliminary and did not take into account a number of expenses and proposed capital improvement projects.

Now she expects that the subsidy required will be $251,000.

Senior center officials are trying to get a referendum on the fall ballot asking voters to create a property tax in Palm Harbor to support the 6-month-old center at 1500 16th St.

On Tuesday, Rausch presented the Pinellas County Commission a proposed $381,000 budget for next year. Program fees, fundraisers and private donations are expected to offset some of those expenses, but the center would still need about $251,000 of taxpayer assistance, she said.

To raise that sum would require one-eighth of a mill of real estate tax, or about $12.50 a year from the owner of a home assessed at $125,000 with a $25,000 homestead exemption.

The proposed referendum would ask voters to support the senior center with a tax of up to a quarter-mill, but for the last several months, senior center officials had been saying the center would be requesting about half that -- one-eighth of a mill -- to meet current needs.

Last week, Rausch said the center would need even less than previously expected. She said she worked up a preliminary $300,000 budget for next year, of which $111,000 would need to come from property taxes.

But since then, she said, she and senior center treasurer Don Mulhollen have prepared a more detailed and realistic budget.

"Those were very preliminary numbers," Rausch said Tuesday. "I shouldn't have released those."

Last week's projection failed to consider a number of expenses, she said, such as instructors' fees, a $5,025 annual reserve account and $35,000 for capital improvements. The proposed improvements include $4,800 worth of kitchen items, $9,500 for computer room items and $12,000 to build, furnish and landscape an outdoor patio.

Rausch also said she failed to include expenses related to becoming a member of the Palm Harbor Community Services Agency, which already oversees taxes levied for the library and recreation. As a member, Rausch said, the senior center would have to contribute its share for PHCSA's tax collector, administrative, auditor and legal fees -- about $23,300 in all.

Rausch said the real estate tax will allow the center to eliminate its annual $25 membership fee (though it would be replaced with a $5 fee to receive the center's newsletter). It also will enable the center to lower class fees more in keeping with other area senior centers, she said, and offer free events.

Rausch said membership and high program fees have kept a number of low-income seniors from using the senior center. Last week, she warned the center was in danger of becoming a "country club for the rich."

The higher budget also would allow the center to hire two maintenance workers, a secretary/bookkeeper and a staffer to keep the center open in the evenings and on weekends.

The center also plans to initiate bus service for those unable to drive, add 87 more parking spaces and offer space for community events and public meetings.

The County Commission voted Tuesday to schedule a public hearing July 18 on whether to hold the referendum. On July 11, the commissioners will discuss whether the referendum, if scheduled, would be held during the Sept. 5 primary -- the date preferred by senior center leaders -- or the general election in November.

Commissioner Bob Stewart suggested the commission consider putting the referendum on the general election ballot in November, when more voters are expected to participate.

"What is the rush that we need to do this in September and not wait 60 days when more people will be participating?" Stewart asked.

Rausch said senior center officials worry if it is placed on the November slate, it will be buried on the bottom of a long ballot with as many as 40 issues.

"People just don't go all the way through," Rausch said.

The primary ballot won't be so crowded, she said, so those participating are more likely to cast their opinion on the senior center question.

"We just want to make sure people see us," Rausch said.

Commissioner Calvin Harris argued putting the issue on the primary ballot "might be a great time to make sure this referendum gets read."

Either way, said County Administrator Fred Marquis, the tax wouldn't go into effect until January.

- Robert Farley can be reached at (727) 445-4185 or at farley@sptimes.com.

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