'Harbor Sounds' Casualty of Safety Harbor Budget Cuts

The Safety Harbor City Commission met on Monday night for one final workshop to hash out the details of the city's 2013-14 budget.

Facing the prospect of having to pull a sizable amount of money - $635,920 - from reserves in order to balance the budget, officials have been working for months to come up with alternatives to having to dip deep into the general fund.

By potentially raising the millage rate from 3.3808 to 3.7104, which the commission is considering, the city will add nearly $317,000 to its coffers. 

Another way to help offset the shortfall is to make cuts to city services and activities. 

The commission spent considerable time deciding which cuts to keep and which ones to forgo; one of the casualties was the funding for the Harbor Sounds event. 

Commissioner Nancy Besore asked chamber co-chair Marie Padavich how she felt about losing city funding for the summer music festival but keeping a $15,000 allocation for the organization's visitors center.

"We would be okay with that," Padavich replied. "The last few years, because of the weather, it has not been as lucrative and it has really hurt our budget."

City Manager Matt Spoor said the event could continue in the future, but with a different look and feel and without city funding, which was listed at $10,700.

The commissioners agreed to all the other cuts - except for the elimination of contributions to the employee dental plan.

And even though the $15,000 cost for the fireworks display is not currently in the budget, Spoor assured the commission that even if a sponsor for the event cannot be found, the city will pay for the festivities out of reserves.

"We wouldn't cancel the fireworks show," he said. "We heard that loud and clear at the last workshop."

Here is the complete list of proposed general fund reductions for the 2013-14 budget that was presented to the commission:

• Transfer to street light for governmental ($7,650)

• Harbor Sounds - personnel cost ($2,700)

• Harbor sounds expenses ($8,000)

• July 4th Fireworks expenses ($15,000) *Assume $15,000 is sponsored and $9600 for other expenses and staff time remain in the budget

• July 4th fireworks - personnel cost ($0)

• Safety Harbor Chamber General Fund Allocation ($15,000)

• Asst City Manager savings ($8,480)

• Savings in proposed budget due to change in elections ($6,100)

• Reduce Traffic Deputy ($103,340, Net decrease is $49,940)

• Make Health Insurance Changes and review employee and employee and family contributions percentages ($95,800)

• Pay 0% of dental insurance for employees (make optional) ($53,230)

• Defer increase in recreation personnel to maintain current level of programs ($19,300)

• Remove parks PT to FT for April 1st ($10,700 - *rebudget for 10/1/14)

• At least a 90 day hiring freeze on all employee retirements ($47,250)

The total amount of these proposed reductions is $377,250.