Funding for nonprofit groups faces budget ax

By TBO.COM | Staff
Published: April 14, 2009

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Tampa --

City funding for nonprofit organizations will be cut next fiscal year.

Mayor Pam Iorio said a projected budget shortfall of more than $52 million for the 2010 fiscal year means the city will have less money to fund the operations of nonprofits like the Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa Theatre, Florida Aquarium and the Tampa Museum of Art.

Iorio is recommending that their funding in FY 2010 be reduced by 10 percent for city-owned nonprofits and 20 percent for non-profits that are not city owned or sponsored, such as the Boys and Girls Club, Florida Orchestra and Glazer Children's Museum.

In 2009, the city provided about $2.7 million in funding for city-owned nonprofits and about $1 million for non-city owned nonprofits. Next fiscal year, according to the city, those figures will be reduced to $2.4 million and $816,000, respectively.

The mayor met with representatives of the nonprofits Tuesday morning.