Public can chime in on St. Petersburg city budget
ST. PETERSBURG -- The public will have several chances to comment on St. Petersburg's proposed 2010 city budget and suggested cuts.
The first public forum is at 6 p.m. July 9 in the council chamber at City Hall, 175 5th St. N. Council members will take public input on the proposed spending plan for next year, which includes an anticipated $15 million to $20 million general fund shortfall and additional budget reductions.
Two other public hearings are scheduled for Sept. 3 and 17, same time and place. The council is expected to adopt the proposed 2010 spending plan and tax rate at the Sept. 3 meeting. The final budget, tax rate and Capital Spending Plan should be approved at the Sept. 17 meeting. All forums will be broadcast live on St. Pete TV channel 35, Knology cable channel 15, Brighthouse cable channel 615 or Verizon FiOs channel 20.
Questions? Visit www.stpete.org/budget or call the City Clerk at (727) 893-7448. View the budget online starting July 1.
Stephanie Hayes, Times staff writer
From the writers of the St. Petersburg Times, Bay Buzz offers the latest news on Tampa Bay politics. This is a public forum sponsored and maintained by the St. Petersburg Times. When you post comments here, what you say becomes public and could appear in the newspaper. You are not engaging in private communication with candidates or Times staffers.
What is a better use of $6 million dollars - more police in St. Petersburg or an airplane hangar?
I think an airplane hangar.
Posted by: M. Fasano | June 26, 2009 at 02:32 PM
Oh, great, another airplane hanger? If M. Fasano wants another hanger, he and his buddies who use it should pay for it themselves.
Posted by: John Cash | June 26, 2009 at 06:48 PM
Oh, the public can "chime in" alright, but that doesn't mean anyone will be listening. That's whay they all have to go!
Posted by: 'cause they all suck! | June 26, 2009 at 07:21 PM
Lets see 20 Million dollar shortfall and Baker spent 20 million on BayWalk, to put money in Semblers pocket?
Sembler raped the tax payers on BayWalk and than walks away.
The Rays are subsidized aprox $250,000.00 a year, for traffic control and Bennett gives taxpayer tickets away for votes. Lets not forget the lose of revenue with the Grad Prix, an other loser?
Posted by: Eyes over Pinellas | June 27, 2009 at 04:07 PM
Will the Council find a backbone and make the appropriate adjustments in the budget?
Posted by: Baker lost money in risky investments asks unions to pay for his mistakes | June 29, 2009 at 06:28 AM
Let's make up the budget shortfall by writing tickets for seatbelt infractions.
Posted by: shuturyap | June 29, 2009 at 08:28 AM