The following pages provide information regarding the $585 million City of Tampa Budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 1999 and ending September 30, 2000. As we approach the new millennium, we are preparing for Tampa's future.

The City's capital improvement program (CIP) totals $144 million, the largest CIP budget in City history. Major City upgrade or replacement projects include parking garages, the Hillsborough River Water Treatment Plant and the McKay Bay Refuse-to-Energy Plant. Also included in the above is $17.5 million in bonds to upgrade parks and recreation facilities over the next 3 years.

Some other highlights in this budget are funds for ensuring that our public safety departments, Police and Fire Rescue, have the tools they need to keep our residents safe. We will continue to fund programs for our neighborhoods such as a new Neighborhood Resource Center, NEAT, planting of 1,000 trees, and new residential traffic calming initiatives.

Ongoing projects such as the East Tampa Initiative, the Mayor's Heights Program, and the continued redevelopment of Ybor City will provide new opportunities for housing, employment, and economic development.

Please take the time to learn about your City budget. My administration will continue to pursue the goal of providing you with very high levels of service while keeping taxes and fees as low as possible.