MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR
                                 DICK GRECO

Each year the Administration and City Council are faced with the responsibility of determining how best to allocate the City of Tampa Budget. The $649 million budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2001 and ending September 30, 2002, continues to build upon our successful past while putting in place plans for our future. For the 13th consecutive year, the ad valorem property tax millage rate remains at 6.539 mills.

Quality of life issues affect many of our neighborhoods and the City as a whole. These issues are generally related to three service areas: public safety, leisure and recreation, and environment/infrastructure needs. Additional police officers, new Fire stations and technology will address public safety needs. Significant improvements will be made to 13 parks and 5 recreation facilities including additional security lighting, community centers, and restroom/storage/shelter buildings, new covered ballcourts, play equipment and play surfaces. In addition, nine facilities funded through the 1999 Recreation Bond will open this year. Through the Community Investment Tax funding, a bond will be issued to secure funding to begin development of a downtown Cultural Arts District which will feature a new Tampa Museum of Art and assist with the Lowry Park Zoo's expansion efforts. Environmental/Infrastructure improvements will consist of $2 million for neighborhood transportation needs including sidewalk construction, traffic calming devices, street resurfacing and intersection improvements. Other projects include completion of a new Street-Sweeping Debris and Stormwater Sediments processing facility, additional water quality and conservation techniques, and City-wide recycling.

After three consecutive years of no utility rate increases, we need to adjust the Water rates into a multi-tier program where customers using large amounts of water are charged higher rates. This will not only provide funding to begin a systematic replacement of the many miles of aging pipe, but will act as a conservation measure. We also need to adjust the Solid Waste rates to pay for increasing collection contract costs, additional debt service for the retrofit project and the costs of expanding the curbside recycling program City-wide.

Like a puzzle, the City puts in place the financial pieces to ensure each department's needs are met in order to complete the big picture. Tampa and her citizens have enjoyed unprecedented prosperity. Advances in the areas of public safety, affordable housing, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, preservation of our historic buildings and our environment, and the celebration of our rich cultural heritage will benefit our City for generations to come. Contributing to the success of our community is the way businesses, City government, and citizens work to put all the pieces together to make Tampa a better place to live.

Dick A. Greco