Posted by  Don Smith, Tampa on 09/16  at  11:05 AM

Surprise, surprise! Mayor Pam, the typical tax and spend democrat, is deeply saddened that the taxpayers have slapped her fingers as they try to reach deeper into our wallets. Just fill the potholes, Mayor. The people have spoken.

Three cheers for the city council who have listened to our concerns to pay our OWN bills for a change. Mayor Pam’s insatiable brand of “for the greater good” socialism has put hard-working, taxpaying citizens in a chokehold. Hopefully, this is the only the beginning of budget cuts for the socialists in city AND county government who are so high in their ivory towers they can no longer see the people they represent!

Posted by  chris post, tampa on 09/16  at  07:36 AM

Mayor Pam is a raise-tax and spend liberal

Posted by  Clara Hutchinson, country, Valrico on 09/16  at  07:10 AM

maybe if Pam would quit spending on all the big ideals that she has on the budget would be ok or close to it. Young and old cannot afford the taxes or the insurance. Or either put all on welfare and so with without the riverwalk and fixing up the city of tampa and eboy. and think about seniors and the young married people that don’t have the college education.Please don’t listen to her. We are really hurting now. I am a senior citzen.

Posted by  David Lane, West Horatio Street, Tampa, Florida on 09/16  at  07:06 AM

The mayor’s response is typical. Most politicians have an insatiable appetite for spending other poeples money!! If I did the math in my head correctly the budget amounts to over $2,200 per year per resident. I didn’t realize I was so expensive to maintain. The proposed cut is less than half a percent. I find it impossible to believe that a good operational audit wouldn’t find at least five to ten percent of the budget wasted on inefficiencies and unneeded or unsuccesful programs.

Posted by  Guy J D'arpa J, south tampa on 09/16  at  06:14 AM

I’m so happy that the people finally said somthing about the dumb things that pam oreo has done in this city. she is the worst mayor she has made every1 in this town suffer financial woes. no 1 can afford to live here anymore. I was born and raised here and i m 33 years old. Listen my biggest problem with her is her code enforcment
as far as im concerned she could drop the whole program, you dont get the voters behind you when you fine them she says she is gonna take the money from the parks well thats a dumb move what would make us wanna suport her she want to take away from the common man ,not her salery or anyone around her.  the taxes have got crazy they are taking food from our mouths and i m not the only one that feels that way.

Posted by  Mike Tomlinson, 3001 West Chapin Ave. Tampa, FL on 09/16  at  05:21 AM

This is not a budget reduction vs last year.  The mayor will still have $27 Million more that last year!

This is proportionately much more that the increases in household budgets.  With property insureance, fuel costs and overall inflation increasing at growing rates the requested increase is too much!

The immediate response by the mayor is to cut areas that are painful to the citizens and city workers.  That is punitive and spiteful.  There is enough waste in the budget so that the mayor can manage the city with the $27 Million increase.

The council is expressing the will of the citizens.  The mayor should listen closer to the voters.  She would hear the same message as the council.