Pinellas County is looking at cutting and deferring major projects throughout the county because of declining tax collections.
Overall, tax and fee revenue is $30 million short of the $160 million the county projected it would collect this year.
To deal with the shortfall, which includes a 6 percent decrease in Penny for Pinellas revenue caused by the recession, county leaders are recommending that projects be scaled back or delayed instead of using bonds to finance them.
The shift to a "pay-as-you-go" mentality is necessary because the county must focus on sustaining its current assets before creating new ones, said Jerry Herron, a director in the budget office.
Proposed changes include:
• Several planned road widenings, including 22nd Avenue S between 34th and 58th streets, should change to only include resurfacing and rehabilitating. The projects, originally scheduled during the 2000-2010 penny tax projects, would be deferred until at least 2015.
•Improvements to Gulf Boulevard stretching from Clearwater to Pass-a-Grille will have to wait until at least 2013, and those plans will need to be scaled back by nearly $9 million.
• East Lake and Palm Harbor library expansions and improvements will be pushed back to at least 2015. The library projects were tentatively planned for 2012.
Herron said penny tax revenues have not met expectations for three years. "Essentially, we're making lower lows," Herron said.
The proposed changes were presented to county commissioners on Monday night during a budget information session that lasted more than four hours.
East Lake resident Roger Johnson implored commissioners Monday to expand the community's library. The library currently has 4,500 square feet. Florida Library Standards recommend at least 20,000 square feet for a community of East Lake's size, he said.
Herron said his office believes that East Lake and Palm Harbor wouldn't be able to maintain any expansions.
Johnson warned of "growing anger" in East Lake that tends to show at the voting booth.
Herron emphasized that the affected projects were, in fact, just delayed.
"These things will be deferred," he said. "They won't be forgotten."
Commissioner Ken Welch said some of the programs being deferred were on the 2000-2010 project list.
Improvements to 102nd Avenue and 22nd Avenue S, which were recommended for deferral past 2015, were both included in the 2000 list.
Indian Shores Mayor Jim Lyons said the commission agreed to $35 million for Gulf Boulevard, no less.
"If it takes an extra five or 10 years, that's fine with us," he said.
Herron said that although less money would be allocated, the project could go forward with only minor changes.
Commissioner Neil Brickfield said beach tourism is vital to the county's economy.
"If we aren't showing off Gulf Boulevard, what are we showing off?" he said.
No firm decisions will be made until after the County Commission approves the budget in September, said County Administrator Bob Lasala.
"I think it deserves the kind of attention you cast on it this evening," he said.
Jackie Alexander can be reached at (727) 893-8779 or jdalexander@sptimes.com.
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