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Commissioners see pain of budget reductions

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 11, 2009

The marathon public meeting Tuesday on proposed budget cuts vividly showed Hillsborough County commissioners how those cuts are going to hurt constituents and anger voters.

The hundreds of people who crammed two rooms at the Hillsborough County Center made clear they value county programs that serve the elderly, inspect child-care centers, investigate animal abuse, help crime victims and provide after-school care for students.

Those services are among many targeted for deep cuts by County Administrator Pat Bean, who must lower the county's $1.1 billion operating budget by $140 million. Some 1,100 jobs may be eliminated.

There is no escaping the budget shortfall, mostly the result of depressed property values. The state also added restrictions that reduced local tax revenues. But speakers Tuesday demonstrated they understand the county's financial crisis, have ideas about how to help and are willing to make sacrifices to maintain services.

Residents pleaded for their favored programs, but they also offered alternatives. They suggested increasing user fees, holding fundraisers, charging for parking at parks, cutting administrators' salaries, even increasing property taxes.

As one speaker said, "There are solutions out there, but no one has asked."

Commissioners, to their credit, did a lot of listening and not much posturing Tuesday. They need to do even more listening.

While a deadline is approaching, the commissioners are likely to make better decisions if they pay close attention to workers who provide the services and to citizens who utilize them.

Sure, some ideas may be unrealistic. But often the best cost-cutting ideas come from the front lines, not an administrator's desk.

The administration, by the way, blundered badly by not being prepared for the large crowd, many of whom sweltered in an inadequately cooled room.

Still, the proceedings gave all sides reason to be encouraged. Most speakers were civil, if passionate, and commissioners handled the long, tense meeting with grace.

And it was clear that the public appreciates the services the county provides. Seniors raved about activity programs. Parents and former participants talked about how park programs had given kids a direction in life. Some speakers held up pictures of badly abused animals that had been rescued by the Animal Services Department.

Children's advocates told how the county's child-care licensing supervision was far more effective than the state's.

The people who filled the County Center might remember those services the next time they hear a candidate for the state Legislature ridicule local government spending. Lawmakers have been quick to excoriate cities and counties, even while passing mandates that increase local costs.

Every operation has some waste, and Hillsborough County, in particular, should be looking at its generous salaries. But local governments generally are far more responsive and efficient than state and federal governments, which spend tax dollars from afar.

Hillsborough County is not going to get through this budget cycle without making cuts that will hurt constituents. But commissioners might be able to lessen the pain if they let citizens help figure out how to balance the books.

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