Is it time to break open St. Petersburg's bulging piggybank?

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JULY 14, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG — Mayor Rick Baker and his staff say St. Petersburg is cash strapped.

In recent years, they've pointed to declining property tax revenue to justify eliminating a summer job program for low-income teenagers, scaling back on support for local art and social services groups, and freezing pay that reneges on the city's union contracts.

The city's financial records paint a different portrait.

When times were good and property tax revenue skyrocketed, city officials squirreled away at least $70 million in savings, 35 percent of St. Petersburg's $206 million operating budget.

City Council members, mayoral candidates, union officials and taxpayers have all asked City Hall to take another look at St. Petersburg's bulging piggy bank — and break it.

Read story here.

Posted by tampabaycom at 9:25:42 am on July 14, 2009 in

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