Hastings, Liedtke Talk Budget, Taxes, Dispatch

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.