Letters to the Editors

Use tax money for its purpose, not side projects

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 13, 2000

Re: Balanced budget may call for cuts, Aug. 10

Editor: Other than the city staff, it was evident at Tuesday's budget session that only Mayor Wendy Brenner understood the city budget process. Mayor Brenner certainly saved the night by keeping the other four council members focused and she deserves a big round of applause. It wasn't easy. Even the St. Petersburg Times reporter didn't get it. Or, is it that the Times doesn't want the people to know about special assessments, user fees and increased property taxes?

How did city staff manage to add items to the budget and reduce the proposed millage rate from 7.317 to 6.53 mills? The property owners in Jasmine Acres, Jasmine Heights and on Missouri Avenue will now pay a special assessment for drainage work in the amount of $700,000.

After years of pleading, these property owners were assured that the city was borrowing the money to fix their drainage problems. This has to be an excruciating kick in the gut to find that this City Council and staff is now saying the money that they borrowed to fix the drainage problems will be used for other things.

Further, the City Council stated they were not going to be concerned about West Main Street flooding. What must the residents and businesses on West Main Street and in Sea Forest area think when there is no concern by the city or staff about flooding on West Main Street. This street is the route that allows Sea Forest's several thousand residents get to U.S. 19 during storm evacuations and to shop in our city.

The streetlight and stormwater utility user fees remain in the budget. These were not eliminated and they constitute new taxes by whatever name you call it. The staff's comment that these user fees do not constitute a large sum of money this year begs the question, "What about next year and the next?"

The reason we pay taxes is to provide for the needs of the residents. It's elementary that first the elected officials and city staff should apply the taxes to the needs of the residents. If there is tax money left over, they can fight over whose pet project will get funded and built. As it now stands the city council and city staff see to their capital projects and then advise the people they must pay more taxes to receive city services.

In the Sept. 30, 1999, city financial report, the auditors state there are 209 city employees. We have been advised that today we have 245 city employees. This is an increase of 36 employees in 10 months. Why?

It's a game councilors. It's called "pad the department budget." The department heads are the good guys and you are the bad guys who say "no." Honest, it's your job.
-- Virginia Krysher New Port Richey

Hunted or bought, meat is meat

Re: Hunting lodge no haven, Aug. 4

Editor: I truly enjoy reading the letters in this paper because undoubtedly someone always reveals their ignorance by writing some type of diatribe concerning a harmless article. I honestly had to chuckle at the misconceptions of Susan J. Weber concerning a recent article about a hunting lodge.

She claims that Mr. Phillips "obviously has no heart or compassion," but I believe that it is Ms. Weber who lacks knowledge. She claims that one who buys meat in a grocery store is more compassionate toward animals.

Would it be safe to assume that she believes that this meat has never been the tissue of a living animal? Where then, Ms. Weber, do your lunch meat, steak, burgers, pork chops and chicken breast come from? I have no problem eating meat from a store, but let's put it into prospective: Meat from the store is from domesticated animals! She asks how Mr. Phillips would feel killing his dogs, but that burger that you're eating, Ms. Weber, was once just as tame as a cocker spaniel!

Let's not criticize without grounds to do so. Hunting is never senseless when you consume what you kill and here's a fast fact for you: Hunters and hunting related agencies pay for more conservation and wildlife protection programs as well as have more respect for the outdoors than any other group.

How's that for compassion? Oh yes, but I'm sure you would not approve of that type of mentality.
-- Emily Wilbanks, New Port Richey

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