[edit - this post has been updated with details about the origins of the Howard Ave Annex project for TPD. The original post reflected a best guess at numbers as the project was not in the TPD CIP budget, rather it was in Facilities Management.)

I’ve written about the mechanics and recent history, my first thoughts, and now we’re up to the Capital Improvement Project portion of the budget. I’ve struggled with this for the last week. Watching the workshop on Monday didn’t help. How I’d like to see the budget work is years away if it ever comes to this city.

We can put fire stations in the budget and 5 year plan and then shuffle them around year after year, saying the same things, with nothing getting built and a new 5 year plan. Meanwhile, when the Chief of Police is asked about a plan for the main headquarters, he says it is part of their 5 year plan but we don’t have the money so it’s not up for discussion now and doesn’t need to be in the CIP. Mind you, there is a $45 million dollar “Annex” in this year’s budget that started out as a $5.3 million dollar project in FY221. Surely a year ago they had an idea this was going to be a much larger project than what ever was approved yet it was left out of the 5 year CIP2.

Shouldn’t have Council, and by extension the public been made aware of this planned expense last year when a 5 year CIP plan was presented? Which gets to what I think the 5 year plan should be3. No, Council can’t approve spending in future years, but they do appropriate funds in one fiscal year for a project that is planned out for multiple years. They did it last year for fire stations, subsequently approving a reimbursement resolution to bond 2 of the projects. Which are now proposed to be shifted out several years in the 5 year CIP. This is why the thus far failed quest for a Public Safety Master Plan (and transparency) is so important.

This is probably the point I need to remind anyone reading that it takes at least 5 elected officials to approve or change the budget. Either 4 Council members and the Mayor, or 5 Council members.

I’ve stated before once you pay for fixed costs like keeping the lights on and the people that make the city so great, there’s not a lot left over. And while $7.5 million might sound like a lot, when you look at the Parks and Recreation CIP it doesn’t look like much. Especially how the work is classified. There’s no clear understanding of where the work is happening4.

The City did a Parks and Rec master plan 3 years ago.

The Implementation Plan, which is the final step for the City of Tampa PRMP, focuses on the execution of the Vision and guiding principles through several components that are intended to define the direction of the Parks and Recreation System for the next 10-15 years and beyond.

Where’s the implementation plan and how is it reflected in the budget?

Speaking of master plans, the City also released a city wide mobility plan last year. From the Mayor’s letter in the plan’s introduction

Tampa MOVES provides the city with an equitable, data-driven approach to make our transportation system better and safer than ever before.

I’ll note, Appendix A: Prioritization Process is empty.

Where’s the data and what is the prioritization process? How is that reflected in the this year’s CIP and the 5 year plan?

I don’t expect to get answers, so, in the meantime, I’ll keep asking questions like why are there other department projects in the Facilities Building/Maintenance Department CIP and what’s the plan.

If you’ve made it this far and have specific questions or would like help navigating OpenGov leave a comment and I’ll be happy to reach back and see how I can help.