Health & Fitness
Another Fiscal Year Another Fiscal Budget
Th City of Clearwater's 2012 Fiscal Year End budget is almost baked. What issues and changes should be considered next year?
On Thursday night (Sept. 29) your Clearwater City Council will hold the final public hearing on our 2012 Fiscal Year End Annual Operating and Capital Improvement Budget. A lot of time and energy has gone into creating this budget. It's a long process that generally starts in April of every year and wraps up at the end of September.
Budgets are like road maps in that the information provides users with a plan for direction as well as a preview of what is expected to happen during the year. Creating this road map is a complicated process that requires city leaders to balance dreams with the cold hard reality of facts. Some things in a budget are routine and fairly predictable but it is the planning for the future part that gets tricky as the future changes.
Clearwater gets some of its money or revenue from property taxes; the services it sells like water, sewer, and garbage; building permits; fines and penalties; and user fees like renting spaces for aircraft hangars and tie downs, boat slips, and vehicles that park on city owned parking spaces. Revenue from property taxes is based on the value of the property multiplied by a millage rate. Millage rates are voted on by the city council. If millage rates are too high no one will want to live in Clearwater, and if millage rates are too low Clearwater can't provide adequate services to its residents and visitors. Here is a list of millage rates by municipality in Pinellas County.
Find out what's happening in Clearwaterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Declining property values have significantly impacted this budget and tough choices had to be made. If this trend continues as expected then next year more difficult choices will have to be done. This is your city and you should let your input be known as to what decisions need to be made. Look at this budget information and ask questions. Learn from this so you are ready for next year's budget process.
Clearwater is your city, what kind of city do you want? What kinds of changes should the City of Clearwater consider next year?
Find out what's happening in Clearwaterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Contact us to find out more about the Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition. You can comment about this blog below or you can take this to our forum.
