|
Seminole unveils proposed 2009-10 budget
By BOB McCLURE
| Article published on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 |
|
 |
SEMINOLE – Residents will continue to see the same services at no additional cost under terms of the city’s proposed 2009-10 budget.
City Manager Frank Edmunds unveiled the $15.5 million budget June 23 to the City Council.
“It’s $1.1 million (6.8 percent) less than the current operating budget,” said Edmunds, “and will not allow for any expansion of any city service.”
It also doesn’t allow for any city raises, which councilors will have to wrangle with in weeks to come.
The 2009-10 package was accomplished without a millage rate increase despite an 11.6 percent ($358,236) drop in ad valorem tax revenue.
“There will be no increase in existing fees for services,” Edmunds said, “and it doesn’t call for wage freezes or layoffs.”
He said the budget was balanced without using reserve funds and everything but police services represents a decrease from the current budget.
“This represents our ability to live within our means,” Edmunds said.
The city’s annual expense for law enforcement services with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office will increase 2.8 percent to $1.77 million.
The biggest chunk of the proposed budget belongs to Seminole Fire Rescue at $8.13 million.
Of that amount, Fire Operations is funded at $4.9 million
and EMS services, which is not determined yet, is estimated at $1.9 million. The city will not know the final figure for EMS until it gets a final figure on the amount Pinellas County will contribute for service to unincorporated areas.
Overall, the proposed fire budget represents an 8.9 percent ($792,433) decrease from the current budget and an 18.6 percent decrease from fiscal year 2008.
Among the biggest cuts were capital outlay in Fire Administration ($3,600), Fire Maintenance ($8,155), Fire Training ($3,900) and Fire Operations ($20,831).
Another $53,559 was trimmed from operational costs of Fire Administration, Maintenance, Life Safety Services and Training.
From a percentage standpoint, the city’s Community Development Department will absorb the biggest cut at 13.2 percent.
Within that spectrum, the code administration and inspection division is hit hardest with an 18 percent cut.
Operational costs have been trimmed 22 percent to $219,131 and people costs have gone down 14.8 percent to $303,668 due to a 20 percent reduction in salary and hours to the code administrator and inspector, which was impacted by a construction slowdown.
The budget for the city’s charter positions remains relatively intact from the current budget at $2.33 million.
The biggest change is a $26,434 reduction in the salary of the redesigned city clerk position.
The Administrative Department is funded at $2.7 million, which represents a 1.8 percent drop from the current budget.
Public Works, meantime, is 8.2 percent less at $1.6 million.
The largest part of the cut is a $94,153 decrease in the facilities section that was part of the current budget for a new air-conditioning system at City Hall.
The parks section will see a 100 percent cut in its current $16,971 capital outlay expense and transportation section has reduced its costs $17,522 (3.5 percent).
The City Council will study the budget further at a July 14 workshop.
|
Article published on Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Copyright © Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved. |
