It won't be the last one, but Pinellas County might have been the first local government to lay it on the line about its awful finances for 2010's budget.
The county's new administrator, Bob LaSala, told his board that he expects to ask them to cut 15 to 20 percent out of what they have been spending and look to contract the size of county government. Property tax revenues could drop by as much as 56 percent, he told county leaders. Sales taxes could fall an additional $14 million.
That's on top of already flagging revenues that are forcing a hiring freeze and a 3 percent holdback in departmental spending this year.
"This is going to be very difficult," LaSala was quoted by the St. Petersburg Times at a work session that was (conveniently) not carried on the county's government access channel because commissioners had moved into a conference room that has no cameras. "We are going to have to make unprecedented changes in the way we do business."
More money troubles: The Florida Legislature signed off on a budget that cuts more than $2 billion in spending. Hardest hit: Education, of course. Every Democrat in the Senate (except Orlando's Gary Siplin) voted against the cuts.
And then there's housing: National reports showed that home foreclosures in Hillsborough and Sarasota counties were above the state average. The worst rate in Florida? Fort Lauderdale.
Welch watch: Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch, formerly sitting on the sidelines for the St. Pete mayor's race later this year, sent an e-mail to supporters saying he was "seriously considering" the race. By last weekend, according to one political blog, he'd told at least one that he was in, pending the outcome of polling.
Speaking of the St. Pete mayor's race: Councilman Jamie Bennett kicked off his campaign with a gathering of 60 supporters on the City Hall steps. He unveiled his campaign theme, One St. Petersburg. Meanwhile, one of his opponents, Deveron Gibbons, plastered the press with news about top politicos who support him (mostly Republicans and mostly legislators) and more than two dozen clergy on board with his effort to win the top office.
Buddy, tsk tsk tsk: More troubles for Buddy Johnson, as if getting un-elected and generally proving incompetence at running the Hillsborough elections office wasn't enough. Now it turns out that during his tenure, he removed the name of Tampa civil rights icon Bob Gilder from the sign at the Bob Gilder Elections Services Center. He also paid thousands more for ballot boxes than most supervisors and more than what the state elections chief said he should pay. And that chief, Secretary of State Kurt Browning, said he is considering an investigation into Johnson's spending. "We keep hearing that he's short $2.3 million, and I wonder, 'What did he spend it on?'" he told reporters. "I don't understand."
Quick hits: Strippers are flocking to Tampa for the Super Bowl payday ... Fox 13 morning anchor Russell Rhodes was arrested and had his face slammed into the pavement at the Channelside parking garage after an off-duty po-po noticed him driving erratically. His pants were undone and fly was down ... Lowry Park Zoo Chairman Bob Merritt resigned ... The Bucs dumped Jon Gruden and GM Bruce Allen and promoted Raheem Morris to head coach ... Five Bay area Sweetbay grocery stores will close.
Fidel está muerto: Another round of "Fidel is dead or dying" rumors swept South Florida. But the spasm passed, even though Fidel Castro still hasn't been heard from recently.
