Tuesday, July 31, 2012
People's Budget Review to launch fire fee survey
Posted by Arielle Stevenson on Tue, Jul 31, 2012 at 6:20 PM
- peoplesbudgetreview.org
St. Petersburg's citizen-driven People's Budget Review will announce their third survey Monday, August 6. The survey's focus will be on the proposed fire fee and Mayor Bill Foster's budget proposal.
"We really view this survey as the most important one," Aaron Dietrich, organizer with People’s Budget Review said."This is the final survey before the budget vote in September."
During the first two surveys, the People's Budget Review got halfway towards reaching 10,000 residents. The first two stories focused on larger-scale questions, but the third survey will have more specifics.
"The budget situation in St. Pete is going to be an ongoing shortfall," Dietrich said. "We are trying to create a vehicle to keep people involved in this process."
The citizen initiative saw attendance at the city's annual budget meetings rise significantly. "Before this, people used to view the budget process in St. Pete as already done before people could give input," Dietrich said. "It has become a movement where people take ownership of the process."
The Tampa Bay Times' John Romano wrote on July 22 "either a fire readiness fee will be added to every parcel of property in the city, or the millage rate will be raised on your existing property taxes."
The City Council approved both possibilities moving forward, but a decision on one will have to be made in September.
"The fire fee has become a symbolic issue for folks in the community," Dietrich said. "We want to see people feel like they have a means to voice opinion and develop consensus."
The survey announcement takes place Monday, August 6, on the steps of St. Petersburg City Hall at 11:45 a.m.
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