|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Treasure Island may increase millage
By LEE DIEKEMPER
Article published on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 |
TREASURE ISLAND – If Treasure Island City Manager Reid Silverboard gets his way, the city’s millage rate could see a jump to as much as 17.25 percent.
Silverboard spoke to the City Commission during a July 15 workshop about the proposed budget for fiscal year 2008-09. In order for the city to continue its current services, Silverboard is asking for a millage rate of 2.7998 mills. The current rate for property taxes in the city is 2.3878 mills.
Silverboard, writing in his agenda brief for the workshop, cited a number of examples of why he is looking for an increase, and why under the current millage rate the city would receive significantly less monies.
Included in the factors were: Legislative mandated revenue reductions, the Amendment 1 revenue reductions, declining property values, a moribund construction market, inflation related to rising energy costs, and a reduction in travel due to fuel costs.
Treasure Island receives a significant amount of revenue as a result of tourism, as does much of Florida.
While Silverboard noted he hated “to term this as a perfect storm,” he did just that. Silverboard used the phrase to describe the loss of tolls due to the new bridge with the unexpected factors aforementioned.
If the millage rate is not approved, the city faces significant cuts in services to stay in the black and likely layoffs.
Public hearings on the budget will not be held for some time, currently scheduled for both commission meetings in September.
New buses on the way
Bob Lasher, the manager of community relations for the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, spoke to the commission and noted that the county is purchasing hybrid buses to replace the current Beach Trolley. The new buses, he said, will be much quieter as well as energy efficient.
Lasher also noted that the PSTA will look into returning bus service to the city that directly linked it with St. Petersburg. That route was lost when construction began on the new causeway bridge.
Lasher cautioned the commission that it is likely PSTA will cut back some services and adjust schedules due to a tighter budget. He couldn’t promise that the route linking the island with St. Petersburg would return.
|
Article published on Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Copyright © Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Tampa Bay Newspapers
9911 Seminole Blvd.
Seminole, FL 33772
(727) 397-5563
Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
|
|
