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Dunedin Budgets $35 Million For Capital Improvements

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: October 3, 2007

DUNEDIN — Even with all its belt tightening, the city still plans about $35 million in capital improvement projects during the 2008 fiscal year.

In adopting the city's total $98.9 million budget, Dunedin officials noted this year's property tax millage rate of 3.5597 mills is 7 percent less than the rollback rate of 3.8276 mills calculated by the Pinellas County's Property Appraiser's Office.

The rollback rate is the amount of property tax the city would have to set to collect the same revenue as it had last year.

City Manager Robert DiSpirito said the tax rate is 13 percent less than last year and 21 percent lower than two years ago. The millage rate is one dollar tax on every thousand dollars of assessed property value minus exemptions.

Even with one of its most austere budgets, several capital improvement projects still are planned next fiscal year.

Among some of the projects:

Leisure services plans to spend $41,000 to replace playground equipment in Amberlea Park and $30,000 for a picnic shelter and basketball court replacement at Elizabeth Skinner Jackson Park. Another $15,000 is budgeted to install picnic tables, benches and grills at Wilson Park.

The sun-drenched playground at the Dunedin Community Center will get a shade cover for $41,000, while $20,000 is budgeted for fencing to the Jerry Lake tennis courts and soccer fields.

Another $20,000 has been added to the capital budget for an aluminum bridge, hiking trails and other amenities to connect the city's recently purchased Harris Tract to Hammock Park. The restroom at the park will be improved for $10,000.

The shed that houses the city's pram fleet at the City Marina will be replaced for $10,000.

Improvements will be made to the sound system at the Hale Activity Center for $10,000, while a $10,000 security system will be installed at the city's new skate park at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex.

On road improvements, $450,000 is budgeted to reconstruct Pinehurst Road, $100,000 to study streetscaping S.R. 580 and $500,000 to make further improvements to Patricia Avenue.

At the City Marina, $35,000 has been set aside for seawall repair, $138,00 for boardwalk and catwalk replacement and $60,000 to add an aluminum floating dock.

Storm-water treatment comprises a big chunk of the city's capital budget plans in the coming year.

About $1.7 million is budgeted for Curlew Creek Watershed improvements, with $1.7 million set aside to rehydrate Hammock Park.

Another $260,000 is set aside for Cedar Creek drainage upgrades along San Christopher Drive and Bass Boulevard. Cedar Creek bank stabilization, between Dunedin High School and Pinehurst Village, will cost an additional $185,000.

Rosewood Drive ditch bank stabilization, which controls erosion threatening abutting properties, will cost the city $750,000, while a Lake SueMar storm-water pond improvement project is budgeted for $440,000.

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