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Lights Fee Scrutinized Ahead Of Vote

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 5, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - It was a small increase, but an increase just the same.

Faced with rising energy costs to keep New Port Richey illuminated at night, city staff had recommended the city council raise the street-lighting fee by 22 percent.

The cost to the average taxpayer would be negligible: less than 50 cents a month.

But this being Florida in the era of property tax reform, with state lawmakers criticizing city governments for overtaxing citizens, even a small fee increase warrants scrutiny.

At Tuesday night's meeting, City Manager Tom O'Neill explained the increases were needed to cover the cost of keeping streetlights turned on across the city.

The streetlight program used to be self-sustaining, but the city can no longer afford to subsidize it out of its general fund, he said.

Mayor Scott McPherson called for comments from the public on the increases. Council members looked around at the nearly empty chambers. No one stepped forward.

The council passed the increase unanimously.

Deputy Mayor Bob Consalvo, echoing the concerns of council members, lamented his decision to support the increases but said he thought the fees were necessary.

"I don't like to see any increase in taxes or fees," he said, "but we want to continue to provide services to our residents, and the only way to do it is with a fee of this kind."

Councilwoman Marilynn deChant said she worried about the perception that the city was replacing a loss of property tax revenue with increased fees for services.

"We just turn around and tack it on somewhere else," she said, visibly agitated.

However, she added, the city is trying to maintain services with limited revenue.

"We're seeing costs going up at so many levels while facing significant budget cuts," deChant said.

McPherson, too, said he struggled with the issue, but decided it was needed.

"I wanted to make sure this wasn't an attempt to pad the general fund," he said.

Figures provided by city staff indicate the cost to the average taxpayer will be $31.83, or an estimated $5.76 more a year. That's up from $26.07 last year.

The city expects to generate $51,700 annually from the increased fees, which also are levied on road paving and stormwater treatment and tacked on to annual property tax bills.

Overall, New Port Richey's $43.5 million budget this fiscal year includes hefty increases in fees for services provided by the city. The increases run the gamut, from building permits and rezoning applications to fire inspections, garage sale permits, title searches and late charges for library books.

Officials say the fee increases are needed to compensate for losses in tax revenue from state-mandated reforms and rising operating costs in this city of about 16,000 residents.

This fiscal year alone, the city expects to lose more than $523,000 in tax proceeds.

Last June, the streetlight assessment was increased 15 percent.

At the time, city staff recommended raising the tax by at least 33 percent, but council members decided on 15 percent.

Since then, officials have upgraded the wattage of many lights and built public parks with more lighting, raising the city's electricity bills.

Councilman Rob Marlowe said that with the rising cost of energy, he is concerned the council might find itself in the position of having to increase the fees again next year.

"If anything, this is very conservative," he said of the increases. "By today's standards."

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (727) 815-1082 or cwade@tampatrib.com.

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