The Tampa Police Department's annual budget of $84.5 million is by far
the largest of the general fund departments. TPD has an authorized staff of 1,239
personnel comprised of 930 sworn positions and 309 civilian positions, which accounts for
85% or $72.1 million of their annual program.
This includes 2 officers in each of the City's 20 Fire Stations as part of
the Community Oriented Policing program. Their budget also supports 578 cars, 12
motorcycles, 3 airplanes, 3 helicopters, and 4 boats.
In FY98, personnel will move into
their new downtown headquarters building, into 2 new district buildings located near Busch
Gardens and Tampa International Airport, and communications personnel will move to a new
911 communications center. The Police Department will respond to 762,000 requests for
service in 1997.
Tampa Fire Rescue
Tampa Fire Rescue has the second largest annual budget within the general
fund departments at $34.8 million. As with the Police Department, their largest expense is
personnel with 574 authorized positions costing $30.6 million or 88% of their annual
program.
The staff includes 516 sworn positions and 58 civilian positions. Tampa
Fire Rescue has 120 vehicles consisting of engines, aerials, rescue cars, various trucks
and sedans, and boats. Fire communications personnel will also move into the new 911
communications center in FY98. Annually, Fire Rescue responds to 12,000 alarms and 46,000
rescue calls.
Leisure Services
Tampa's leisure services include Parks, Recreation, Tampa
Museum, Tampa Convention Center, and the Tampa Theater. The Parks and Recreation
Departments have the largest budgets.
The Parks Department in FY98 has a budget of $14.2 million and 305
authorized positions to provide conservation, preservation and maintenance of public
property within the City. This includes maintenance of 1,773 acres of parkland,
streetscape and parkways. The Parks Department also manages the NEAT (Neighborhood
Environmental Action Team) program. Started in FY97, NEAT provides special clean-ups
throughout the City in conjunction with neighborhoods, at-risk-youth, volunteers, and the
judicial system.
The Recreation Department's FY98 budget totals $8.5 million with 208
authorized positions. This budget supports 13 swimming pools, 2 beach parks, 19 community
centers, 38 year-round playgrounds and 2 gyms. They also provide a wide range of programs
such as swimming instructions, first aid and lifeguard training, adult and youth organized
sports leagues, arts and crafts, drug and alcohol prevention, senior citizen programs, and
City-wide special events.
General Government
This section includes the Mayor, Internal Audit, Administration, City
Council, City Clerk, Business and Community Services, Legal, Revenue and Finance,
Purchasing, Management Information Services, and Cable Communications.
Business and Community Services has the largest budget among these
departments. The Department of Business and Community Services has 148 authorized
positions and a budget for FY98 of $8.2 million.
The department maintains housing and
development standards through administration and enforcement of City codes and encourages
economic development. On an annual basis personnel issue 22,000 permits, perform 120,000
inspections, 4,000 code enforcement investigations, and review 15,000 commercial site
plans.
Public Works/Storm Water
The Public Works Department is responsible for maintaining public
streets and buildings and coordinates City-wide construction contracts. This is
accomplished with 237 personnel who maintain 8,800 traffic signs, 538 computerized traffic
signals, 1,468 miles of streets and 500 city facilities.
The Stormwater Division is responsible for the planning, design,
construction, operation and maintenance of Tampa's stormwater system. With a staff of 93
personnel and an annual budget of $5.7 million they will maintain 365 miles of pipe, 180
drainage ditches and 90 retention ponds, and sweep 21,000 miles of City streets.
Capital Improvement
The FY98 Capital Improvement Program is funded at $22.8 million. The
source of these funds includes Utility Taxes, Local Option Gas Taxes, Community Investment
Tax, and Transportation Impact Fees.
Included in the FY98 program are funds for Sulphur Springs Pool
Improvements estimated to cost $1.5 million with a planned opening at the end of 1998.
Funding is also provided for the construction of 2 new Police substations and a new 911
communications center for Police and Fire Rescue, improvements to numerous parks and
recreation facilities, and various public works and stormwater projects.
Debt
Debt Service for FY98, which includes principal and interest payments,
will be $22.6 million. The debt consists of revenue bonds that were issued for the
Performing Arts Center, Tampa Convention Center, General Utility Tax Bonds, and the
Florida Aquarium.
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