The mayor of St. Petersburg is proposing another cut. But it won't mean much amid rising property values.
"Mayor Rick Baker wants to slash the tax rate an additional 5 percent for next year's budget. But his plan requires taxpayers to contribute $12-million more, an analysis of the mayor's proposal shows."
"St. Petersburg has cut its tax rate 10 times in the last 14 years, while Tampa's tax rate has not been lowered in almost two decades. Tampa's taxes remain lower by 0.411 mills, a difference of $41 on a home with a $100,000 taxable value."
"That same home this year will have a taxable value of $63,036 after adding in the 3 percent maximum Save Our Homes increase. The annual tax bill under the mayor's proposal for that house would drop $9.26, to $416.08."
"City Council member Rick Kriseman said the savings from such a tax cut might be better spent on enhanced city services. He's fearful, however, that any attempt to keep the money in the city budget could be interpreted as a tax increase." Read the full story...
Council drops idea of property tax rate cut
A talked-about 2 percent decrease is "meaningless," the majority agrees. That's an "arrogant" view, says a loser in the debate.
"I think we're talking pennies here," said council member Mary Alvarez, who expressed the strongest views against a tax cut. "I would only save $18 a year. Big deal."
"For a homeowner with a homestead exemption on a house valued at $200,000, the yearly savings from rolling back the millage rate 2 percent would be $22.89, said city finance director Bonnie Wise."
"Wise said a 2 percent tax break for Tampa property owners would have put a nearly $2.8-million dent in the city's budget. That equaled the amount of the City Council and city clerk's combined budgets."
"Council member Linda Saul-Sena said there are city departments that go without things each year because there isn't enough money." Read the full story...
"The tale of two cities" June 20th, 2006
What if...
What if the city of St. Petersburg chose a course similar to that of it's neighbor to the east; Tampa? Look at the two 'Times articles featured below and decide for yourselves where our Mayor's politics lie.
The city of St. Petersburg's problems with labor are long existent. Our Brothers and Sisters in the St. Petersburg Police Department suffer from the lowest morale in Pinellas County and some would argue - in the state. Improper staffing (as borne out by a recent 'Times article - SPPD could grow by a third again and 'just' meet the standard) is just one of many reasons that newly hired officers are leaving in droves.
For those of us working in Pinellas County's largest Fire & Rescue Dept., 'parity' is an elusive concept. Look across the bay at both Tampa Fire Department and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and you'll see members of two work forces who are by and large - happy!
Let's look at some numbers...
St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue has been in existence for 99 years.
Tampa Fire Department has been in existence for 111 years.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue has been in existence since 1997 as a combined operation.
Tampa Fire Dept. and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue share many common traits not shared by those of us working for the City of St. Petersburg...
48 hour work week (Kelly Day every three weeks)
Cost of living adjustment in retirement (COLA)
Average Final Compensation [(AFC) retirement] based on 'actual' hours worked
Overtime at 'time and a half' rate for all overtime hours worked
Pension contribution by members is far less than St. Petersburg - Tampa Firefighters contribute 2%, while Hillsborough County Firefighters contribute 0% into FRS
Further differences between Tampa, Hillsborough & St. Petersburg
Tampa Fire Dept. offers a "20 and Out" retirement plan
Tampa offers a Pension multiplier of 3.25% per year (like many others in the Bay area)
Now let's look at St. Petersburg's not so generous approach
52 hours work week (Kelly Day every six weeks)
No COLA in our retirement years
AFC based on 'base salary' only
If told that you must work "manditory" overtime - it often isn't at 'time & a half'
How is it that the city of Tampa's Mayor can find room in a proposed budget to actually add additional public safety personnel, yet across the bay, St. Petersburg's Mayor is allowing his to languish and decay?
Iorio proposes $728-million budget August 3, 2006
The spending plan would add $5-million to Tampa's
emergency reserve and fund neighborhood improvements.
TAMPA — Mayor Pam Iorio’s proposed budget for next year would pump $5-million into the city’s emergency reserve in case of a hurricane or other catastrophe, as well as add fire department and parks personnel.
Her proposal to the City Council Thursday on the 2006-07 budget also highlightedpolice department needs and neighborhood improvements such as sidewalks and street repaving.
Iorio’s budget includes funding for nine new fire rescue workers and seven more firefighters, two additional police sergeants in New Tampa and $1-million for furnishings and communication equipment in the District III police station now under construction in East Tampa.
The Fire Department will need an additional $6-million in the next five years to operate new stations...
Council members generally praised Iorio’s budget.
Council member Linda Saul-Sena called the budget “excellent,” and Mary Alvarez said she was “proud” and “grateful” for Iorio and her staff. Read the full story...
Florida Fire Fighters Help Elect First Responder Advocate
Rublee pledged his support before the campaign. As the City of Oldsmar grows, he has promised to make sure staffing levels remain adequate.
Over the course of his career, Rublee has gained 10 years of public service experience in budgeting, project management and human resources. In addition, he was a charter member of the Department of Homeland Security.
In order to be closer to family, he moved to Pinellas County, where he teaches high school science full-time. Rublee is now a union-member teacher for the Pinellas County School District. He is also a trained and certified member of a local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
March 20, 2007 – A new city council member in Oldsmar, Florida, is crediting his recent win to the fire fighters who endorsed him – the Florida Professional Fire Fighters and Palm Harbor/Oldsmar, FL Local 2980. Greg Rublee won 60 percent of the vote in his campaign against opponent Loretta Wydnt in the March 13 election.
“We mailed noticesto retired IAFF members in Florida, asking them to support Rublee by putting campaign signs in their yards,” explains Mike Kelzer, vice president of Local 2980. “Fire fighters were also out at every polling areathe of the vote, encouraging people to vote for our endorsed candidate.”
