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Suncoast Pinellas News

Prudent Caution

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THE SUNCOAST NEWS

Published: February 12, 2008

The city of Dunedin is still tiptoeing around the question of whether to buy a parcel of land along Alt. 19 with St. Joseph Sound on one side and the Pinellas Trail on the other. It would be nice to turn this land, owned by businessman and musician J.C. Weaver, into a city park to ensure it isn't developed.

On the other hand, the city shouldn't pay a huge premium for the land, which might have been devalued by the current real estate slump, or get locked into a two-part deal in which it buys half the acreage, with funding help from the Florida Community Trust, and then would have to purchase the remainder on its own, without state help. As things stand now, one or both of these scenarios are at least possible.

Then there is the matter of the proposed amendment to the state constitution on property taxes that will be before voters this Tuesday. It could also strain the city's finances if approved.
Given the above, the city is being prudent in looking before leaping into buying the Weaver land.

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