Facing $4.3M Budget Shortfall, St. Pete Residents Want City to Invest

Facing a $4.3 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2014, the city of St. Petersburg asked attendees of the May 15 budget summit what they thought should be cut from the budget and what should be saved.

“How can we spend the money that we have and spend it in a way that has the greatest impact?” asked City Council chair Karl Nurse.

Residents said it was time to invest.

Invest in universal curbside recycling. Invest urban agriculture. Invest in education. Invest in small businesses. And invest in youth employment programs.

Olga Bof, with Keep St. Petersburg Local, said as the city talks about its priorities, sustainability and long-term investments, there is one thing that will help all areas of the city: Small businesses.

“You have the answer in your locally owned independent businesses,” Bof said.

Kurt Donley, president of the Council of Neighborhood Associations, said St. Petersburg is the largest city in Florida without universal curbside recycling. The neighborhoods, he said, would support investment into that program. 

"CONA is behind the iniative for you to do curbside recycling," he said.

Budget director Tom Greene said as Mayor Bill Foster and city staff formulate the budget they would be looking for areas to cut as well as areas to generate more revenue.

The city released four 2014 budget priorities while forming the budget. According to city documents they are: 

• Public Safety
  • Apply for federal grant to add five uniform police officers
  • Invest in new fire equipment that will lower maintenance costs and insurance
• Quality of Life
  • Maintain funding for arts and social services, libraries, rec centers, parks, pools and senior centers
• Efficiency
  • Start using private contracts for landscaping services along the interstate
  • Invest in technologies that will reduce future operating costs
  • Will not use reserves
• Economic Development
  • Create a community reinvestment area (CRA) for Mid-Town/Childs Park 

What’s Next?

There will be third and final budget summit at 6 p.m., June 12 at the Enoch Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave. S.

On July 1, Mayor Bill Foster will submit his proposed budget to city council.

The first public hearing on the 2014 budget is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 12, with the second public hearing set for Sept. 26.

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