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County, Sports Authority Tussle: No Harm, No Foul

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By MIKE SALINERO

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 19, 2008

TAMPA - A dust-up between the Hillsborough County Commission and the Tampa Sports Authority was defused Friday when Sports Authority executive director Henry Saavedra agreed the agency would significantly cut its administrative costs.

The tussle started Thursday at a county commission budget workshop. Commissioner Rose Ferlita said she felt Saavedra had been dismissive of a July 1 letter from County Administrator Pat Bean asking for the $250,000 cut and for the sports authority to hold cost-of-living pay increases to 2.25 percent, the same as the county.

Bean pointed out in her letter that the county pays two-thirds of the authority's operating deficit each year, a figure now around $2 million. Tampa pays the other third, about $1 million.
Saavedra wrote Bean back that the authority's staff would "immediately start working on ways to accommodate this request..." He said the revised budget would be taken to the Sports Authority board July 28.

That didn't satisfy Ferlita.

"That's not good enough considering the amount of dollars we provide the Sports Authority," Ferlita said. "We should request Mr. Saavedra appear before us to explain his budget instead of to his board."

Ferlita said after the meeting the commission wants to make sure the authority cuts higher-level positions, not just people who mow the lawn at Raymond James Stadium or the three golf courses the sports authority manages.
Saavedra said Friday he was "completely blown away" when he heard about Ferlita's comments.

"For whatever reason, there was a misunderstanding," Saavedra said. "We're taking this very seriously."
Saavedra said the sports authority would be "reducing substantial amounts of money, probably more money than the $250,000. But we're an independent agency and I have to take it to the board," he said.

The sports authority's preliminary budget for fiscal year 2009 showed an overall 3.6 percent increase in salaries. Saavedra said that amount probably would be reduced.

Records show Saavedra makes $205,000 for leading the 40-member staff. His director of finance and administration makes $102,024 and his director of operations makes $181,147.
Saavedra said the sports authority has an operating budget deficit because it gets a flat $5 million a year rental fee from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That amount was negotiated by city and county officials in an effort to keep the Bucs in Tampa after voters approved using sales tax money to build the stadium.

"That's all we're allowed to get for the next 30 years," Saavedra said. "We have no ability to increase our revenues. But yet by contract with the Bucs we're supposed to maintain a first-class facility that is nationally televised."
Saavedra or a member of his staff is expected to appear at the county commission's budget workshop Thursday.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303 or msalinero@tampatrib.com.

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