TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Officials Ask Local Legislators For Budget Help

ADVERTISEMENT

By RICH SHOPES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 17, 2007

TAMPA - City and county leaders made their best pitch Friday for state funding, but local legislators warned they might come up short given the tax-cutting climate in Tallahassee.

Leaders from Tampa, Hillsborough County, Plant City, Temple Terrace, the University of South Florida and various agencies took turns urging support for local government programs and explaining why the state should fund or expand those projects.

The nearly five-hour meeting with nine local legislators took on a somber tone several times when local officials explained that a special tax-cutting session in June in Tallahassee forced them to cut programs and, in some cases, enact layoffs.

Legislators couldn't promise that local governments won't suffer again when budget deliberations resume next year. Meanwhile, voters are set to go to the polls in January to decide whether to increase property tax exemptions, further cutting revenue to local governments.

Hillsborough State Attorney Mark Ober told legislators his budget is already lean. He said prosecutors are overloaded with cases, and additional cuts will translate into layoffs that could hinder public safety.

"We handled 94,000 cases last year. We only have people. I don't have a helicopter to ground and cars I can take off the road," Ober told the group. "Cutting the budget means cutting people."

The meeting wasn't only about funding. Temple Terrace officials requested an independent environmental study on the health of the Hillsborough River where it flows through the city.

"The river is our greatest asset," Councilman Frank Chillura said.

Later, Tampa and county leaders sparred over the makeup of Hillsborough's Environmental Protection Commission.

Rep. Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City, is sponsoring a bill to broaden the EPC from seven members to nine and include both city and county officials.

Four members would be appointed by the county, three by Tampa and one each by Temple Terrace and Plant City. Currently, all EPC members are county commissioners.

A half-hour later, county officials addressing the legislators asked them to rally behind a different bill by Rep. Kevin Ambler, R-Lutz, that would give cities membership but still leave county commissioners as the majority on the EPC.

Sen. Victor Crist, R-Tampa, suggested another option: that all commissions and authorities be reviewed "so we don't have to do this piecemeal."

Another legislative delegation meeting is set for December.

Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633 or rshopes@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT