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Residents make pleas for favorite programs

Tribune photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Hundreds of people crowded into two conference rooms to ask commissioners to save popular programs during a budget meeting Tuesday.

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By MIKE SALINERO

msalinero@tampatrib.com

Published: June 10, 2009

TAMPA - After three hours and 89 speakers, Hillsborough County commissioners were looking for ways Tuesday night to restore popular programs threatened by the budget ax.

Hundreds of people crowded two conference rooms, one of which was sweltering, to demonstrate support for child care licensing, after-school recreation and animal protection. The three programs face either devastating cuts or outright elimination as the county looks to fill a $144 million budget gap.

It was the first of four public hearings commissioners are holding on the 2010 budget. Speakers ranged from elementary school youngsters such as 7-year-old Oscar Lopez, to the white-haired, yellow-T-shirted OWLS, which stands for Older Wiser Livelier Seniors. Both Lopez and the seniors were arguing for restoration of programs in the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department, which is slated for $12.3 million in proposed cuts.

Daniel Johns said he grew up in the county's after-school recreation program and worked there before going to college.

"I had mentors there that I'm still in contact with today," Johns said. "And I'm here to speak on their behalf today so hopefully they won't lose their jobs."

A dozen or more child-care providers argued for the county's licensing program, which would be phased out over two years under county administrator Pat Bean's budget. Eliminating the program would save $1.2 million and cut 15 jobs.

Kathy Jones, an Apollo Beach child-care provider, cited the 2006 drowning death of an 18-month-old child in a backyard wading pool in Manatee County. Jones said licensing is needed to make sure pools are fenced in, that providers are not watching too many children and that a provider's boyfriend is not a sexual predator.

"A child care license is not just a piece of paper," Jones said.

Other providers said they would pay higher license fees to keep the program at full strength.

Commissioner Jim Norman told county budget director Eric Johnson to meet with child-care provider organizations and figure out a way to restore the program.

"We all have kids," Norman said, "and our administrators want to save this program."

Supporters of the county's Animal Services Department brought photos of abused animals to the podium. Connie Johnson said that one of the department's investigators, who will be laid off under Bean's proposed cuts, single-handedly eliminated dog-fighting rings in Hillsborough County.

"Believe me, they'll be back if we don't do the right thing," Johnson said.

At 9 p.m., after the last speaker, several commissioners reaffirmed their commitment to children and animals. Commissioner Rose Ferlita said she wanted to discuss the Animal Services cuts at a budget workshop Thursday at 1:30. Commission Chairman Ken Hagan said he wanted to discuss saving the after-school program, which serves 3,500 youngsters.

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