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Iorio: Cutbacks Won't Hinder Investing In City's Future

News Channel 8 photo by CHRIS TAYLOR

Pam Iorio talks about the state of the city.

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 12, 2008

TAMPA - Despite a bleak economy and Tampa's challenges balancing the budget, Mayor Pam Iorio said today the city will continue investing in the community and will spend hundreds of millions of dollars on projects in an attempt to move the city forward.

"The state of the city is good, and I promise you this: It will get better all the time," Iorio said.

Her comments came during her annual state of the city speech, where she addressed hundreds of employees, council members, neighborhood leaders and other local officials.

She spoke about the city's urban development, including the city's success in landing an Ikea furniture store and a Ritz-Carlton hotel. She said the crime rate dropped another 10 percent, bringing the five-year decrease to 42.5 percent. She spoke about striking a deal with the Southwest Florida Water Management District to improve the health of the lower Hillsborough River.

Much of her remarks focused on tough economic conditions, for families and for the city. The city is looking at a $17 million budget shortfall this year. Though layoffs are likely, Iorio reaffirmed her promise not to make any cuts to uniformed police officers or fire safety personnel. She also reaffirmed her promise to make cuts that won't affect the public.

"For the average family, these are difficult times," Iorio said. "You have to know the city is going to be very careful in how it constructs its budget. We're not going to affect those services the people in our community depend upon. We've got to look internally at the way we do business."

To that end, the city created a task force last year designed to find ways for the city to be more efficient. The task force so far has found ways to save about $3.4 million. The most controversial proposal: turning janitorial and security services over to private firms.

Iorio didn't mention that during her speech, instead talking about the city's plans to spend more than $400 million on capital projects over the next two years. That includes repairing some of the city's aging water and wastewater infrastructure, building a new Tampa Museum of Art and redesigning Curtis Hixon Park. Money from various sources - including the Community Investment Tax, bonds and impact fees - will help finance many of the projects.

"It's the tough times that define you as a person and will define us as a city," Iorio said. "We will make more progress than ever before. We're going to invest $400 million in capital projects in this community."

Curtis Hixon Park will be financed in large part by taxpayer dollars generated downtown.

"It really is a gift of the downtown property owners to the rest of us," Iorio said.

Looking to 2009, Iorio said she was excited Tampa is going to host the Super Bowl. Within days of that event, the city also will host Gasparilla, among other events.

Councilman Tom Scott said the city should continue investing.

"A city this size cannot retreat," Scott said. "You've got to move forward. The economy won't stay bad forever. It's going to get better."

Councilman Joseph Caetano generally agreed.

"You can move forward, but you have to be very cautious," he said. "Everything costs money. We can't spend money that we don't have."

A couple of city employees said the mayor's remarks were uplifting.

"I'm feeling very secure," said Anthony Grace, a Clean City division worker. "You get kind of apprehensive at first."

Transportation Division workers Norman Morris and Hector Gutierrez said they are trying not to worry too much about layoffs.

"Everybody's nervous about job cuts," Morris said. "It gives you a little confidence."

Added Gutierrez: "It softens the blow a little bit."

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

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