Penny for Pinellas Funding for Island EstatesOne hundred years ago, western residents of Hillsborough County voted to secede and create Pinellas County, the culmination of a 24-year effort. Pinellas County residents believed their tax contribution to Hillsborough County was controlled and consumed by Tampa, with minimal benefits flowing back to waterfront communities. A.C. Turner, a prominent divisionist and former county commissioner, stated that Hillsborough County "has expended many thousands of tax dollars without giving Pinellas any appreciable substantial improvements." The campaign slogan for Pinellas was "A Square Deal," and was approved by 73 percent of voters. Hillsborough made the error of treating Pinellas as a colony to be taxed and ignored, and paid dearly for it. In the IECA First Quarter 2010 newsletter mailed to all island residents our goals for 2010 were reiterated: upgraded landscaping and undergrounding of our utilities. Our president noted that "We need Penny for Pinellas funds to make it happen. The association sent a written request to Clearwater's mayor requesting Penny for Pinellas funding for this project." For our entire 50-year existence, the City of Clearwater cannot point to a single substantial capital improvement on Island Estates, and none are planned. With our high taxes, we contribute disproportionally to every project Clearwater undertakes, be it marinas, theaters, downtown landscaping, libraries, senior centers, recreation centers, swimming pools, tennis courts, soccer fields, parks, beaches, boat ramps, traffic calming, emergency medical facilities, fire stations, sailing clubs, recreation trails-Island Estates has none of this. We just pay for it. Recently, Pinellas County Commissioners approved a $35 million project to assist waterfront communities underground their utilities and improve landscaping. Clearwater's share of this windfall is $6.7 million. This generous, far-sighted funding is in addition to already-allocated Penny funds. The county recognizes the value of waterfront communities of undergrounded utilities. Clearwater does not. Had Island Estates been an independent city, our population of 3,100 would have entitled our island to more than $7 million in Penny funds over the 30-year Penny period. The city's web site proudly lists dozens of major projects funded by Penny-and not one for Island Estates. The September 9, 2010 Public Hearing for Penny projects lists 24 future city projects totaling $107,232,000-not one for Island Estates. Being a part of Clearwater is costly to our community. Services provided should bear some relationship to taxes assessed. We are a poster child for just how unfairly Penny funds can be allocated within a city. Obviously Penny funds are not allocated based on merit, equity or cost/benefit analysis. Our project would improve property values and increase tax revenues, eventually paying for itself. Yet our $6 million request is deemed less worthy of funding than all of the projects scheduled for approval below:
Recently, Clearwater's mayor expressed concern that hotel bed tax money may not spread "equitably" throughout the county, shortchanging Clearwater. He's looking for a "Square Deal" for the city-but not for Island Estates. Our request for Penny funding should be added to the agenda of projects considered for funding approval on September 9, 2010. We deserve to have our projects seriously considered, objectively discussed and approved. Arnie Shal
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