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Budget Plan Would Cut Usual Employee Raises

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By LAURA KINSLER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 6, 2008

ZEPHYRHILLS - City departments won't be getting new vehicles any time soon. Vacant jobs won't be filled, and travel and training budgets were slashed.

Plans for a new downtown fire station and library were put on hold, too. Instead of the traditional 2 percent to 3 percent cost of living raise, city employees would all receive a flat $500 bonus when the fiscal year starts Oct. 1.

Those are a few of the changes in the proposed $42 million budget. City Manager Steve Spina said the plan will allow the city to absorb its $400,000 shortfall and maintain its tax rate of $5.57 per $1,000 of property valuation.

The budget includes $1.36 million to build a 50,000-square-foot building at the Zephyrhills Industrial Park, a city-owned complex near the municipal airport that already is home to a handful of manufacturing and industrial businesses. The city secured a $400,000 interest-free loan from Progress Energy to offset the construction costs.

The city council has scheduled a public hearing 6 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall. The council scheduled to vote on the budget Sept. 22.

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 865-4844 or lkinsler@tampatrib.com.

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