Belleair Shore budget likely to be lower
By DAVE SHELTON
Article published on Wednesday, July 23, 2008  |
BELLEAIR SHORE – Mayor John A. Robertson said next year’s town budget is likely to be lower than the current $89,000 budget.
The Town Commission voted July 16 to set a maximum tax rate for next year at the same as this year – 0.5256 mills. That is about 53 cents tax on each $1,000 of a property’s taxable value.
Robertson said the town would need slightly less money next year than the current $89,000 budget. This would mark the third consecutive year of budget reductions in the town. He pointed to a total reduction of about $3,000, primarily through a drop in the cost for law enforcement services provided by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
Robertson said the town would pay the PCSO $3,000 less than the $24,000 it is paying this year.
The mayor had initially questioned whether the town should remain part of the Barrier Islands’ Library Cooperative, pointing to the $2,500 the town would have to pay. He questioned how many of Belleair Shore’s less than 100 residents used the library since many are part-time residents.
But, according to Robinson, the library has 44 members who have Belleair Shore mailing addresses.
“That seems to be a lot to me,” Robertson said, as he added the library fee back into the budget. He and his wife are members of the library.
Public hearings on the proposed $86,387 budget and .5256 millage rate are scheduled for Sept. 3 and Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Belleair Bluffs City Hall.
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Article published on Wednesday, July 23, 2008
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