Largo Begins Review on Budget for FY2011By Leo CoughlinLARGO - With the specter of very large compensation packages paid to many city officials hanging over the proceedings, the City Commission Tuesday night began its discussions on the city budget for fiscal year 2011, which begins October 1. Under review is a budget totaling $151,123,100, which depends on a millage rate of 4.3113, unchanged from the current rate. Like all jurisdictions, Largo is plagued by the economic situation and a tax base 10.2 percent lower this year has resulted in about $1.6 million less in ad valorem revenue, the money that comes directly from property tax. At the outset Tuesday night, the commission heard from Clyde Schreiner of the Finance Advisory Board who was sitting in for that board's chairman, Ambrose Marsh. Schreiner gave a brief rundown from notes of the more complete report each member of the commission had before herself or himself. The FAB had met four times in July to discuss the budget and in a thoroughgoing way raised questions on many planned outlays including wondering about the viability of the Golf Course, which is a perennial loser. A response to that concern at the July 14 FAB meeting was that a "marketing plan" was being developed, although past plans have not seemed to make much headway against the losses at the tiny course. Don Brannon, whose compensation from the city is $74,118 - a figure that has raised some eyebrows, is the director of the course. During its July meetings the board also had concerns about the cost of the planned work at the Highland Recreation Center. When that came up at the July 28 meeting staff members said that the project was still subject to modifications. One big concern is whether enough money will be developed in the Penny for Pinellas fund to pay for the huge borrowing the city is doing for a raft of projects. Tuesday night's focus was on the Community Development, Environmental Services, Library and Public Works Departments and was pretty routine. This came after Amy Davis, of the Office of Management and Budget, gave a briefing on the budget overview, including reductions, the tax rate, utility fees, and pay and benefit costs, which are enormous for some top officials. Davis said there are no planned rate increases for sewer, solid waste, and storm water services. There is a total reduction of $3.4 million in the 2011 budget from the current expenditures. To reach this there was a reduction of 16 full time employees. There are no pay increases for city employees which Davis pointed out represents a savings of $915,000 based on the assumption of a 2 percent increase. The Finance Advisory Board at its July 28 meeting unanimously recommended a salary freeze. It appears the only person collecting a pay raise from the city has been Alan Zimmet, the legal officer. A strict dictum had been laid down by the city manager, Norton Craig, that there would be no raises whatsoever in 2011, but he caved in to Zimmet and recommended "just a 'nominal 1 percent'" increase. Zimmet got the raise at the May 18 commission meeting with only Commissioners Mary Black and Curtis Holmes holding the line on the no raises rule. Craig, when asked, said that Craig said it was not his independent recommendation but a request from Zimmet for the increase. The increase brought Zimmet's retainer to $117,837.36 a year (that's $2,266.10 a week), plus his law firm gets most of the city's legal business. Another work session on the budget is scheduled next week, August 19. One of the departments due for review then is the Parks, Recreation and Arts Department, a consumer of many tax dollars, which may result in more intense interest than Tuesday night's meeting produced. But intervening in that time span is a regular commission meeting next Tuesday which may see some fireworks from citizens reportedly riled up over the huge compensation packages bestowed on some city officials and the latest report on a highly paid husband-wife team working for the city.
|