Tampa City Council unanimously approved a spending plan that includes significant investments in affordable housing and fire rescue after weeks of calculating figures.
Members of the City Council agreed to spend about $12 million to build and maintain affordable housing units.
The seven-member board also authorized a $1.5 million plan to establish a new fire station in North Tampa’s Fowler neighborhood.
However, council members opted to cap salary increases for over 1,000 non-union city employees at 3%.
Fewer dollars will be allocated to the Parks and Recreation Department and repaving the cracking and crumbling roads throughout the city.
“So ultimately, what we were able to do was to get some basic core critical needs met by looking into the reserves and looking at budget cuts in other areas,” said council member Luis Viera.
“This is a one-year coupon that we have and took advantage of for one year. Next year we’ve have to talk about long-term needs.”
It was difficult for council members to find the monies needed after rejecting Mayor Jane Castor’s $1.9 billion budget proposal and the accompanying double-digit property tax hike.
“Everybody worked really hard, put a lot of sweat equity into that and working with the administration, with the Castor administration to get things done. So, I think tonight was a real victory for the people,” said Viera.
When asked about potential cuts to events like Boom by the Bay and River O’ Green Fest, Viera said those were not brought up for a vote, and he would not support that.
“For one thing we have to respect the legacy of our Irish American brothers and sisters. That’s certainly something that’s important. I would not support cutting that. As for ‘Boom By the Bay, God bless America. We’re not going to defund the Fourth of July,” said Viera.
Next month, council members are expected to discuss the possibility of using government bonds as an additional funding source.