Local Towns by Steve Traiman
Good news for 2022, from taxes to new developments.
With increased property values the past few years, resulting in more income from county property tax revenue, key barrier island towns including St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island and Madeira Beach are mostly maintaining current millage rates and holding down major property tax increases for the new fiscal year that began October 1.
ST. PETE BEACH
City commissioners voted to adopt the same millage rate since 2015 at 3.15 mils – putting emphasis on being able to fund expensive capital improvements in 2022 and beyond. Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Vince Tenaglia told the commission the city was able to handle any drop in revenue during the height of Covid due to “tremendous growth in parking revenue at our top-ranked beaches and an upsurge in building plan reviews and permits as the city’s building moratorium comes to an end.”
City Manager Alex Rey said, “The fiscal year 2021-22 budget generally holds the line on expenses, with the few areas that we’re adding money to related to strategic initiatives. General fund revenues had a nice level of growth … that allows us to increase the amount toward capital infrastructure.
“This year the city has been extremely successful in pursuing federal and state funds. We got awarded a $1.5 million grant from the state to assist in the road restoration as part of the sewer force main project, $4.8 million from the federal American Recovery Program and we are hopeful to receive a $2 million grant from the state for a sewer project for a total of over $8 million in support.”
“Of course, we have a big risk in terms of what we are doing as a result of the water threats analysis, ” Mayor Al Johnson added. “This analysis is what scares me as we have a huge subaqueous line replacement coming down the pike that will be close to $10 million.”
Tenaglia told commissioners that keeping the millage rate at 3.15 should raise about $10,980,696 because the city’s property values are up 5.07%.
Among the new projects are the opening of The Bellwether in the former Grand Plaza Hotel, opening of the new Saint Resort and 82 Degrees restaurant, renovation of the former Holiday Inn on Gulf Boulevard into the new Hilton Garden Inn, and a recent proposal by a development group for the east end of Corey Avenue for a new complex with a 234-unit condo/apartment building, parking garage, 5,000-square-foot restaurant and about 3,950 square feet of retail space. Public hearings on the proposed budget were set for Sept. 13 and Sept. 27, with a final vote on the new budget at the Sept. 27 commission meeting.
TREASURE ISLAND
“The city’s focus has been on streamlining services delivery, on infrastructure and sustainability, updating the comprehensive plan and rewriting the Land Development regulations, securing funding for the maintenance of the bridge, and presenting a phased approach towards the replacement of the remaining city facilities,” City Manager Amy Davis told commissioners at August 4-5 budget hearings. “Reconstruction and elevation of the Master Lift Station for wastewater is one of the various projects focusing on infrastructure improvements.
“The city’s tax base increased by 5.69% as a result of continued building and renovation activity that has been consistent throughout the last couple of years throughout the county. The property value increases this budget year is largely due to an increase in housing values.
“The city also will see more benefits from such additions as the new Crabby’s on the Pass, replacing the iconic Gators that had been a fixture for more than 30 years. Also, the opening of the new City Hall Center, built in the transformed former Allied Insurance building with five floors of streamlined offices and services to include a large community room and smaller rooms that will be available to the public to rent for events, meetings or programs, with move-in completed in 2022.”
Davis continued, “The iconic Sanding Ovations sculpture event will be held in November over two weekends this year (18-21 & 26-28) to help promote social distancing and give more time to enjoy the sand sculptures. The event is held on the beach behind the Bilmar Beach Resort and draws many thousands of area residents and tourists.
“The 2022 budget proposes the city adopt a property tax rate of 3.8129 mills, 2 mills higher than the current millage rate of 3.6129. This will enable the city to achieve the 0.5 mill required to fund the Causeway Bridge capital maintenance into the future. The city also plans to raise most parking meter rates from $2.75 to $3.00 an hour and increase non-resident City Marina boat slip rates by $275 to $600 a month. It will also increase garbage pick-up fees by 4%, increase both recycling and stormwater fees by 10%, plus an average 5% increase in sewer rates.
“By FY 2023, the last year of a five-year-plan to generate revenue In the stormwater fund that will be sufficient to mostly support the level of stormwater improvements needed. The budget reflects the anticipated American Rescue Plan Act funds, state and federal legislation requests, Southwest Water Management District grants and various other grants that total about $10.1 million.”
Second reading and public hearing for the official ordinance was set for Sept. 20, before the regular commission meeting to establish the tentative property tax rate for the new fiscal year starting Oct. 1.
MADEIRA BEACH
Before he resigned September 1 when his contract was not extended, Bob Daniels, Madeira Beach City Manager, told Paradise News, “Our property values are up about 8.5% so we’re able to keep the same millage rate as the past fiscal year. New properties like the Cambria Hotel opened, we should have groundbreaking for the Schooner Hotel in the third quarter, movement on the triangle property at Madeira Way and 150th Ave., and we will be celebrating our 75th anniversary all year long.
“Among highlights, we’ll celebrate in 2022 with one major monthly event, kicking off with the Seafood Festival at John’s Pass in January. Through my career, I’ve always believed ‘we have to show progress every day’, and with HEART – H is for Honesty, E is ethics, A is Accountability, R is for Ready (every day), and T is for Teamwork.”
At a special Sept. 7 meeting, the Commission extended a new city manager contract to Lee Staab, former county manager of Grand County, Colorado, and a city manager in Minot, North Dakota, with Daniels the second choice. However, on Sept. 10, Mayor John Hendricks announced that Staab had turned down the job due to personal reasons.
Bob Daniels agreed to stay on as interim city manager on a month-to-month contract while the commission decides whether to extend him a new contract or start another review of the original 28 candidates, a number of whom have taken themselves out of the running.
Mayor Hendricks told Paradise News, “As a result of this situation, at a special meeting September 22, the commission decided to reopen applications for the City Manager position. Bob Daniels will not reapply and was extended the 40-day notice, staying on as interim city manager through October and possible later if necessary.”
The mayor also has a very positive outlook for 2022 and beyond, adding to Daniels’ prior comments. “We will continue to consider a joint venture on a Hi-Dry storage facility for the City Marina, extend efforts to establish a restaurant, and install a surrounding marina privacy fence to help dress up our city entrance; continuation of undergrounding of utilities on Gulf Boulevard; continue vital talks with the county for solution to John’s Pass sand channel issue, possible Village parking garage, Gulf Boulevard street signal at entrance to eliminate two busy crosswalks, and discussion of new hotel on Village property; purchase of new bus for Parks & Recreation Department; and monthly event celebration of our 75th anniversary.
“We will be aggressively applying for grants to help fund these projects but look forward to a much better outlook for residents, businesses and tourists in 2022 and the years ahead!”
{Editor’s Note: Special thanks to St. Pete Beach Mayor Al Johnson, City Manager Alex Rey & Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Vince Tenaglia; Treasure Island City Manager Amy Davis; and Madeira Beach Mayor John Hendricks and Interim City Manager Bob Daniels for their vital assistance and excellent comments.]
[Feature editor Steve Traiman is president of Creative Copy by Steve Traiman, providing professional business writing services since 1993. He can be reached via email to traimancreativecopy@gmail.com or by phone to 727-363-7531.]