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St. Petersburg City Council to talk budget, Pier and utility rates today

 
Published Sept. 2, 2015

ST. PETERSBURG— City workers unhappy with negotiations on a new contract and Pier Park opponents leery of improvements to the approach are likely to make appeals to City Council members today.

It'll be a long day. Shortly after the meeting begins at 8:30 a.m., the council will likely vote on $20 million for improvements connecting Beach Drive to planned Pier Park project. Some council members have said they want to start talking about eventually winding down the TIF district that encompasses downtown and send the money elsewhere in the city.

At 6 p.m., the council will hold its first public hearing on the budget. The $224 million general fund budget proposed by Mayor Rick Kriseman doesn't have a property tax increase. But about $10 million in unanticipated revenue from county and state taxes and fees, which the mayor already has plans for, will be a topic of debate as some council members have other plans for the cash.

City workers are also expected to show up to express dismay in stalled talks over a new contract. Kriseman has proposed an across-the-board 3 percent raise, but blue-collar workres are upset that the mayor's negotiators want to eliminate automatic "step" increases.

As if that's not enough, council members will also discuss a proposed hike in the utility rates by 3.75 percent. Council member Karl Nurse has asked to raise wastewater fees by even more to help pay for sewer repairs. The recent heavy rain exposed a waste water system in disarray and in need of up to $350 million in repairs.

Contact Charlie Frago at cfrago@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8459. Follow @CharlieFrago.