Adding 2 More Police Officers Part of Preliminary Budget

Clearwater Police could see an increase in officers to help with enforcement at Clearwater Beach as part of the city's preliminary budget which was recently released.

The more than $375 million budget for city wide services is balanced through cost-cutting measures like salary savings and the use of $1.4 million of general fund reserves.

Property tax values increased for the first time in six years, which will generate about $1 million more than last year. The property tax rate is expected to remain the same level for the fifth year.

Still, property taxes, once a $53.3 piece of the city’s budget at the height of the housing boom in 2006-07, is reduced to $38.3 million this year.

The city's 2013 taxable property values increased from $7.5 billion to $7.7 billion.

The 5.155 millage rate is the same as the last five years. This means a property owner with a home valued at $150,000, with a $50,000 homestead exemption, would pay $515.50 in taxes.

The budget includes adding two police officers to help with issues at Clearwater Beach because of the increased tourism there.

Council discusses the preliminary budget at a work session meeting July 15. They set the tentative millage rate July 18. 

The first public hearing on the budget is at 6 p.m. Sept. 3 at City Hall. The millage rate and budget gets a final vote Sept. 19.