Throw in your chips for Clearwater budget cuts

OBJECT: To help identify community spending priorities. Between the slow economy and state-mandated tax cutbacks like Amendment 1, it's a big issue. For next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1, city leaders expect to cut $9-million to $10-million from the city's $123.2-million general fund, which pays for most city day-to-day operations. To help find those savings, Clearwater officials are holding two community meetings this month.

EQUIPMENT: 48 chips representing recreation centers, landscape maintenance, libraries, police substations, a homeless center donation, police administrative support, community policing, fire stations, a specialized fire squad, beach lifeguards, neighborhood services, cultural affairs, the Office on Aging, C-View TV, special events, the Harborview Center, public communications, the Jolley Trolley and tourism marketing. These city services are most likely to be part of future budget discussions.

TO PLAY: Each group gets 48 chips. Each chip lists a service and a number representing its cost. To keep the math simple, each group's chips will total $20,000, and groups divide them into an $18,000 "keep" pile and a $2,000 "cut" pile.

GAME TIME: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Long Center, 1501 N Belcher Road, and 6 to 8:30 p.m. April 23 at the downtown Main Library, 100 N Osceola Ave.

Comments on this article

by Rose	Apr 14, 2008 8:46 PM
Stop spending money on Beach and downtown. You already lost 99% business and beach tourists with your BRILLANT ideas. Start collecting on these fines by developers and you will have your $, so jobs are saved. Bingo? what MBA brain came up with t

by Rob	Apr 14, 2008 8:45 PM
So employees are just game pieces. Nice, glad to see the City thinks so highly of their workers. Talk about lowering moral, way to go HUBBARD & HORNE. Well now employees know where they stand with you two and the Council.

by Chuck	Apr 14, 2008 1:48 PM
These are the type of "brillient ideas" the "JERK These are the types of ideas I would expect from the "JERKS" we elected to run our city.

by Bob Newhart	Apr 13, 2008 12:21 PM
Stop spending money on the downtown area. No normal person will ever go there. Hubbard should not forgive the CO$ for the fines they owe on their super-duper-power building. Is it up to a million dollars? Make them pay NOW!

by Justine	Apr 13, 2008 11:56 AM
As a citizen of Clearwater, I find the portrayal of this open budget meeting demeaning to both the citizens and employees of the City of Clearwater. This is not a game. The cutting of the budget should not be treated as such.

by Pam	Apr 13, 2008 10:16 AM
Hank, to assume a woman's actions are based on her association with a man is sexist. Compensation is a legit budget issue. Let's hear your cogent opinion on it, without the personal attacks which only cast doubt on your IQ.

by William	Apr 13, 2008 9:41 AM
Hey Lisa - My health benefits cost more than anybody I know in private employment and I get no Social Security because I get a pension that I pay 8% of salary for. We arent some fat cats.

by Kelly	Apr 13, 2008 9:41 AM
Harborview, cleveland st, beachwalk, $25,000 per palm tree lining the bridge and beachwalk, too many chiefs & not enough indians in multiple city depts, wasted $$ on lawsuits...when does the madness end? our mayor, city mgr & council should b

by Hank	Apr 11, 2008 6:50 PM
Well Dee just showed her IQ or lack thereof. She must be married to one of the idiots as well. Sexist and classist? Get real and get a life. And if you are a taxpayer, then why not look into the waste of your money.

by mary	Apr 11, 2008 6:42 PM
hey Lisa are you willing to put your life on the line like the firefighters and police for crappy wages - they need something to look forward to like good health plans and pensions. Why don't you trade places with them.

by Dee	Apr 11, 2008 6:41 PM
Hank scored some serious moron points! He hates the fire dept & city leaders, he's sexist & classist, and has anger issues. The fat will be cut, and if that includes Hank, yippee!

by Marie	Apr 11, 2008 6:38 PM
Mike - why don't you dig into Fire Chief Geer wasting taxpayers money on defending unfair labor practices & EEOC complaints. The City hasn't won one yet. The complaints & UPLs have cost probably $250,000 or mor. Get rid of Geer

by Hank	Apr 11, 2008 5:47 PM
So much waste by the fire chief and his band of idiots. And the city thinks of this as a game? Up yours, Lisa....You must be independently rich or married to one of the idiot city leaders.

by TommyD	Apr 11, 2008 4:36 PM
Beach Walk (30 Million), Cleveland Steet @ a million per block for Zenu, Harborview debacle, & the 4 story library on the most valued waterfront property the city owns? No one is watching C-View & homeless centers bring more ho

by Lisa	Apr 11, 2008 2:03 PM
Is there a "salary and benefit" chip? Raises, perks, health plans and pensions are the financial black hole of government. Let's put the spotlight on that.

by John	Apr 11, 2008 2:02 PM
The mayor and commissioners need to step up and perform the duties they were elected to do. How does Mayor Hibbard react when times get tight? He passes his duty onto the citizens. Seems to me Hibbard & the council can’t or won’t make the right c

by Wallace	Apr 11, 2008 2:02 PM
So what is different from any other day in Clearwater?They constantly gamble away tax money.Look @ the fire dept.Chief Geer & Horne have wasted millions of $$$. They have been found guilty of several unafair labor practices, discrimination by the

by Ronniw	Apr 11, 2008 1:49 PM
Hey Mike, this is no game! It is serious business. Suppose your job was on the cutting block? Good Idea!