The St. Petersburg City Council approved a tentative budget this week of $473,178,748 that gives city employees a raise.
But Mayor Bill Foster’s fiscal 2014 spending plan is causing rancor from some Council members, who accused the mayor of ignoring neighborhoods, especially midtown and south St. Pete.
Council members and several residents asked for additional funding for blighted business areas, youth employment and parks and recreation.
A large turnout from residents from south St. Petersburg and midtown pointed to high unemployment and a lack of opportunities for young people.
Councilor Wengay Newton argued that spending for youth training and employment could decrease arrests of juveniles and costly police services. Councilor Leslie Curran pointed to small businesses along Central Avenue that suffer because areas are neglected and run down, hurting tourism.
Council chair Karl Nurse complained that year after year the mayor’s spending plans do not allow for even minor increases to help fund neighborhood-level programs.
“I do sense a lot of frustration,” Foster told council members who unsuccessfully tried to pass amendments for increases in neighborhood grants and spending on after-school youth internships.
“I hear you. I feel you. You are reminiscing about Camelot, which was years ago when property tax revenues were $100 million.”
The mayor’s tentative budget passed on a 5-3 vote.
Foster did note that this year marks the first time in his four years in office that property values are going up in the city. It also is the first year he was able to grant city workers a small wage increase.
The fiscal year 2014 budget projects a 4 percent increase in property values, which is expected to yield $3.1 million in additional tax revenue for the general fund.
The millage rate is going down slightly to “show residents that… our city budgeting is not to continue to collect more taxes … just because property values increase,” according to a budget brief that the mayor’s office posted online.
Although the millage rate is lower, homeowners may see an increase in their property tax bill as property values rise.
The city’s fiscal year begins Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30. A final public hearing on the tentative budget is schedule for Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
The proposed general fund for fiscal 2014 is $212,143,000. Here is a breakdown of how the money will be spent:
• Public safety, 58 percent
• Leisure and community services, 19 percent
• General government, 13 percent
• Public works, 5 percent
• City development, 5 percent
The biggest ticket item in the general fund is for public safety, which includes both the police and fire departments, for a total of $122,897,708.
That money will cover five additional police officers, uniforms, protective gear and computers for five new officers.
