New Tampa Community Center Expansion Postponed

Plans to build a 14,000-square-foot addition to the New Tampa Community Park/Recreation Center have been put on hold.

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn did not allocate money to the project in his fiscal year 2013-14 budget proposal, according to a report from TBO.com. The $851,000 expansion to the 19,568-square-foot recreation center was supposed to begin early this year. It has been pushed back to 2016.

Buckhorn presented the budget of $831 million to the Tampa City Council Thursday.

It represents a $26.5 million increase due to increases in personnel, fleet, fuel costs and Community Redevelopment Area projects being reassigned to fiscal year 2014, according to a news release. No employees will be fired and city services will not be cut.

“This year’s budget reflects our effort to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods, support continued economic growth, and move our city forward,” said Buckhorn in the release. “Tampa is well positioned as the economy recovers because we have streamlined city government and made prudent and conservative financial decisions. Our best days are ahead of us.”

The following capital improvement projects were included in the proposal. They’re valued at $103 million:

• Reshaping Perry Harvey, Julian B. Lane and Water Works parks

• Investing in wastewater and stormwater projects, including around Drew Park and Donut Pond

• Improving sidewalks, adding street lighting and building complete streets

A $19 million shortfall would be eliminated by increased property tax revenue due to increasing property values, a reduction in departmental spending and a fund transfer from reserves, according to the release.

Public hearings on the budget will take place Aug. 22 and Sept. 9.

See what New Tampa residents had to say about the recreation center expansion postponement in the TBO.com story.

What do you think of the delay? Did Buckhorn make the right decisions in his budget proposal? Tell us in the comments.

See also:

• Kids Enjoy Summer at New Tampa Skatepark