Smitten with some straight talk from a politician

I've had man crushes before. Once upon a time, I adored Pete Rose. The guitarist from U2, the Edge, was another.

So I'm not sure what it says about the sad state of my life today, but the latest object of my affection is a bearded, middle-aged attorney.

Just to clarify, I don't really know Jim Kennedy. And hopefully I'll come to my senses in a few days.

But the City Council member won me over last week when he suggested the possibility of a property tax increase in St. Petersburg.

It isn't the idea of higher taxes that stirred me. Heaven knows increased property taxes and homeowner's insurance have raised my mortgage payment hundreds of dollars a month higher than what it was when I purchased my home.

What intrigued me was the idea of a politician telling you something you didn't want to hear. That, to me, is the essence of a leader.

In a world overrun by sound bites and talking points, and buzz words and focus groups, it was a blast of fresh air to hear someone unafraid to voice a simple, honest thought.

Kennedy wasn't proposing a tax increase. He's not even sure he would support one.

But he made the inarguable point that declining home values has led to declining tax revenues, and that has led to a smaller and smaller city budget.

Now is a smaller budget a bad thing?

Not necessarily.

During the past few years, the city has done away with hundreds of nonessential jobs, trimmed some excess in its programs and cut corners in ways small and large.

And I think we would all agree that that type of hypervigilance in spending taxpayer dollars is a fine, fine idea.

But there comes a point where you're no longer cutting fat, and you're actually drawing blood. And it's worth asking if St. Petersburg has reached that point.

"I'm not saying, 'Gee the city will fall apart if we don't (raise taxes) this year,' '' Kennedy said. "But when you start looking at the things that are being cut, they may not have an impact this year, but they will eventually have an impact.

"You may not notice it today, but you'll notice it in 20 years.''

The city is not messing with essential services. Police and fire still will get necessary funds. But the code department has seen some cuts, and that shows up in the fraying of neighborhoods. Pool and library hours are cut. Trees are not being planted. When you call the mayor's action line, it may take longer to get results.

By themselves, none of those things will change your daily life. But little by little, the quality of life in a city begins to slip.

Maybe you don't think St. Petersburg is at that point. Maybe you would rather have the few extra dollars a month that a slight tax increase might incur. Who knows, you may be absolutely right and your neighbors might feel exactly the same way.

But the city has not raised the property tax rate in more than 20 years, and projected revenues in 2012 are roughly 30 percent less than what they were in 2008.

So, if nothing else, it was time that someone raised the issue. Even if the budget has more room for cuts, and even if the council ultimately decides against a tax increase.

And it's worth remembering that Kennedy had the gumption to bring up an unpopular topic at a time when state and national leaders are more interested in pandering.

"I think you do tend to hear louder noises from the ends than you do from the middle,'' Kennedy said. "But when I talk to people individually, and you start looking at it in terms of how much it really means on a monthly basis, I think the majority of people are starting to move in that direction.

"Hopefully we'll find that out with the budget forums and we'll get more than two or three people who have their own little issues and are not considering the overall picture.''

And, really, that's all we can ask for. We don't need platitudes, and we don't need shouting. Just some honest talk about tough issues.

John Romano can be reached at romano@tampabay.com.