Hastings, Liedtke Talk Budget, Taxes, Dispatch
Incumbent David Hastings and Dan Liedtke debate about how to balance the budget during the Town Shores forum for Ward 1 City Council Candidates this week.
(left) Dan Liedtke and (right) David Hastings. Both are candidates for Ward 1 City Council.
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During the Town Shores Ward 1 Candidate Forum on Tuesday Incumbent David Hastings and Dan Liedtke disagreed on several issues including balancing the budget, outsourcing dispatch and property taxes.
Budget: Dispatch
Incumbent David Hastings stood by the "tough" decisions council made in balancing the budget for fiscal year 2012.
“Since 2003, this city has come up with a budget that has spent more money in services than we have collected in fees and taxes. We have had to deal with a budget deficit. The city council before sought in 2006 or 7 to actually lower the millage rate to increase the budget deficit even more than it was presented.”
Hastings assured that his decision to outsource dispatch was made with a lot of research. "I talked to every single police department in Pinellas County that already outsourced their dispatch years ago, there was not one complaint."
“If we hadn’t outsourced dispatch, whatever budget deficit we face this year would have been $300,000 higher."
Dan Liedtke says ultimately it is the City Manager's job to present a balanced budget to the council and he says Jim O'Reilly did that. Liedtke says the decision to outsource dispatch was "rushed." "The devil is in the details, we lost a holding cell."
Budget: Taxes, City Fees
Liedtke is against raising property taxes.
Hastings says, “Coming into this year, we’re faced with another budget deficit that we’re going to have tough decisions to make. I’m prepared to do that. If that means that we have to increase the millage rate again, if that means we have to pass on increases for our utility rates. I don’t want to but we all depend on our city. No one wants to change or decrease any of the services, well, you can’t have everything, something’s gotta give.”
Budget: Ideas
Liedtke emphasizes that city officials can do something now.
“Yes you’re right we are going to face another budget deficit. We’re been talking about ordinances, we’ve been talking about a special magistrate, and there’s more ordinances to come. There are a lot of things the city can do about it now," Liedtke said.
“Gulfport is not built out, there are a lot of vacant lots and empty pieces of land.” Liedtke says if we focus on bringing new businesses to town, that will help increase tax revenues for the city.
Hastings says he'll continue to work with the City Manager to figure out what to do to maintain our services.
Gulfport Police Department
Both candidates maintain they are against losing the Gulfport Police Department.
Gulfport Boulevard Development
When asked how each candidate felt about adding a turning lanes on Gulfport Boulevard Hastings said he disagrees with the idea because it would eliminate green space from the existing street.
"The road itself would come right up to the sidewalk. I was personally not in favor of any changes. Pinells County has put this expansion out of their 10 year capital improvement plan. We on the city council just went back to them and asked them to look at intersections for safety improvements,” Hastings said.
Liedtke says the "Gulfport experience begins when you exit the interstate." As a result, he wants to "look at what we can do for Federal dollars" to help improve 22nd Ave. S. and Gulfport Blvd. S.
Economic Development
Liedtke says, "I think we need to stop pretending we’re victims of the economy. There are opportunities everywhere. Let’s do the things we can do, lets look at improving 22nd Ave. S. and Gulfport Blvd. Lets look at increased police presences (on) 49th St. S.
Hastings says council is already moving forward with the EPA Brownsfields Program which will help improve properties on 49th St. Hastings says the PACE program was approved by council although he opposed it. He says that will help commercial properties make environmental enhancements.
For more information
David Hastings' Campaign Manager is Gina Burke. For more information, check out his campaign website at www.davidhastings4gulfportcitycouncil.com. You can contact Hastings at his office: (727) 322-0909 Cell: (727) 434-0074 or via email at hastings4citycouncil@gmail.com.
Dan Liedtke does not have a campaign manager. He does have a campaign website at www.gulfportspirit.com. You may contact Dan Liedtke at (727) 233-0469 or email him at Dan@gulfportspirit.com.
The citywide vote is Tuesday, March 13. For more information about the municipal elections, refer to the the city's website.
Gulfport Patch has a Ward Map with this story.
Rick Boze
4:45 pm on Saturday, January 14, 2012
Dan I visited your web page and agree to your position on many of your answers. Even with me in Atlanta, I believe the Council is changing the small village feel of Gulfport into a public HOA. I spend a few weeks each year on vacation in Gulfport and I do plan on moving there, your ideas will not only improve Gulfport but the surrounding areas, those areas are one of the worst areas in Florida for crime. What good would it do to improve the city limits, the criminals just have to cross the street to get to it. By the way the small donation was my first in my life for any political campaign, Good Luck, and Thank you.
Lynda
8:46 am on Sunday, January 15, 2012
Rick, just wondering what your source is for calling the "surrounding areas" to Gulfport "one of the worst areas in Florida for crime". I doubt even Mr. Liedtke (who chooses to live in a gated community. Private HOA anyone?) would agree with you.
Rick Boze
5:35 pm on Saturday, January 21, 2012
Well according to the crime websites that update daily,anything to the east and north on 22nd ave and east of 49th st to at least 275 makes the websites daily, and the St Petersburg Times almost daily, and the National news at least once a month with crimes like the Killing of 3 police officers in 2 weeks, using a bulldozer to get to the suspect. And talking to your fellow neighbors at the Community Center for a public safety meeting. I guess I might be jumping the gun, but I think my sources are better than the average person. I guess South Miami may edge it out some nights, but it is close.
Rick Boze
5:47 pm on Saturday, January 21, 2012
BTY it is different to choose to live in a gated community, and forcing everybody else to live in one. Would you even walk thru Child's Park in the daytime let along after dark? Gulfport is a buffer between the criminals and all the communities west and north of it, and you can see the job the Gulfport Police are doing to keep it that way by the crime websites, it stops at the city limits. I think the Gulfport Police need to increase its presence on 22nd ave and 49th st areas and maybe create a larger buffer zone for its citizens, they could probably get a few federal grants to help out, and better equipment.
Rainbow Energy
6:44 pm on Thursday, January 19, 2012
Having seen David Hastings' intelligent and thorough vetting of issues and his tireless hard work to insure a safe, solvent, healthy, and attractive Gulfport in which to work, live, and play, I am confident in my support of his reelection to our city council.
Lynda
7:08 pm on Saturday, January 21, 2012
Rick, I have lived in Miami (and center city Detroit). I am very uncomfortable with your characterization of Gulfport as a "buffer between the criminals and all the communities west and north". I do understand that you live in Atlanta so may not be as sensitive to the negative implications of what you have said as those of us who have lived in Gulfport for years. While I believe Gulfport police work hard to keep this city safe for all citizens, I would like to think that St. Petersburg as a community is working to reduce crime in all areas of their city, too. Crime statistics are not the only measure of a community's safety. And, in the end, gates, walls and "buffers" are not sufficient barriers unless the whole community is strong. I hope Mr Liedlke chooses to comment on your ideas since you are one of his donors.
Rick Boze
8:34 pm on Saturday, January 21, 2012
I'm sorry Lynda if the truth makes you uncomfortable, but I witnessed St Pete in action my 2nd trip down with some street thugs on the 4600 block of 24th ave, thankfully it made me do more research about the crime in the area to be able to make my statements. And you need to read a little slower and take in its meaning, Gulfport Police are doing their job because its like a invisible shield keeping crime away. But they could use more help and maybe attend the public safety meetings by the Council, The Police and a few more of your neighbors and the Community on the other side of 49th St, may just live up to its potential.
Kim Morrissey
12:51 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Lynda, you have likely not been a victim of crime here in GP, but I have. Burglary and car theft only 6 weeks after moving here permanently (after vacationing here for over 15 years). While I think the GP police dept. cares a lot about the citizens and crime, I don't see that it is being reduced or prevented. And I completely disagree that St. Pete is working to reduce crime in all areas, they simply do not care much at all about the criminals that live on our borders of the marina area. Several of our neighbors in that area (we have since moved) have been victims of burglaries, thefts, car thefts, etc. in the past 18 months. The people doing the crimes for the most part are not from GP, they live just blocks away in So. St. Pete, and they are not being caught. I am not saying I am for or against either candidate in this article - just saying that more needs to be done, and that yes, crime is happening in So. St. Pete & it's borders, which happen to be GP. I'm sure bigger cities are worse, but it is happening here far too frequently and no one is being held accountable. The one positive thing that came out of our burglary and others is that more people are now calling the police when they see someone acting suspicious who doesn't belong in their neighborhood. I hope they continue to do so, we will never know how many crimes that may prevent, but I would imagine that it does prevent some. I would rather have city council worry about crime than trash cans.
Lynda
8:38 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Kim, I am sorry to hear about your crime experience. Glad you stayed and glad your neighbors are more watchful. Thanks for sharing your real life experience with St Petersburg policing in So St. Pete. I too have been a theft victim here, but it actually was a neighbor with mental issues. My original point to Rick was that Gulfport can't be treated like a "buffer" island. We are connected to the places around us. No matter how much of our local tax dollars are spent on the Gulfport Police or how much our city council worries about crime, if the region doesn't have strong communities, our property and safety is at risk. And since so much of the local business economy depends on tourists, being a welcoming place is important. For some Gulfport neighborhoods, knowing who "belongs" can be tough. And some of our neighbors or guests can be "profiled" if they don't look like the majority of Gulfport citizens. I give all of the council members and candidates lots of credit for being willing to serve in a very difficult job.
Rick Boze
12:38 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Kim you hit the nail on the head, crime and prevention need to not only addressed first, but addressed often. The City Limits are very awkward for the natural boundaries and common sense. If St Pete can not or will not patrol the neighborhoods and bring down crime Gulfport needs to sue them and annex those areas. Add patrols by both police departments, work hand in hand and eliminate the criminal elements, Again attend the public safety meetings and voice your concerns. If the Chief is too busy to attend and address your concerns, FIRE EM. Council members can't attend, FIRE EM. Fine some new people that will attend and address some real issues, not trash cans and smoking on the beach.
Rick Boze
12:46 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
This is my last post because we have decided to move to an area around 66th st and Central, Ive done what I can to open a few eyes and get some people motivated, since it is not working I will enjoy being safer, and let Gulfport buffer the criminals out. And not worry about cutting my grass every 3 days, or have my Community turned into an HOA. Good Luck, I will still monitor your news and when we move, we will see ya'll at the local events, We do LOVE Gulfport as it is today.
Nancy Kelley
7:43 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
Gulfport can have it all. Clean streets, less litter, a non smoking beach AND less crime. Officer McLaughlin has done a terrific job of cleaning up an area of ward 4 to eliminate the perception of crime. If an area looks shabby and looks as though it is a crime area it will be. Code Enforcement is very IMPORTANT in this regard. Our present City Council is the first council in my eight years here to speak up to a Chief of Police and state they expect violations to be addressed. You can not separate these two issues, If YOU want less crime go to the crime awareness meetings, attend council meetings, go to St Petersburg council meetings and let your voices be heard. Don't put it all on one or two council people. It takes a Village.