City leaders eye taxes, infrastructure for 2010

Most city council members agree holding the line on taxes is one of the most important goals for 2010.

Improving infrastructure and housing development also top the list.

Mayor Lara Bradburn said following years of organizing and cleaning up City Hall, city leaders now must begin looking forward and formulate a plan.

Currently, she said there isn't a citywide master plan to stimulate growth, which impacts budgeting and other projects.

"We definitely need a plan that helps us deal with infrastructure, facilities and financial planning so that when we grow, we're not doing so haphazardly," Bradburn said. "To do that, we need a clear vision for the future."

She added council members have managed to reduce taxes by 23 percent the past three years. Whether they'll be able to do that next summer remains to be seen, however.

"Last time we had to pull some rabbits out of our hats to do that," Bradburn said. "But we don't have any rabbits left - meaning this will be our toughest year."

Council members Joe Johnston III and David Pugh agreed not increasing taxes while adequately budgeting for city needs would be a challenge this year.

Pugh said coming up with ways to improve the city infrastructure on top of that would add an additional challenge.

"I'd like to see the city's housing development come to life again or at least start moving more in that direction," Pugh said. "Reducing taxes and improving infrastructure are lofty goals, especially in this economy."

He added he would like to see council members reduce or eliminate the city utility tax, which he said would help taxpayers, especially in light of recent economic hardships.

Although he did not return phone messages, Councilman Joe Bernardini said in an e-mail he's eying a business that's looking for a building in Brooksville that would provide roughly 150 new jobs.

"Our immediate goal is to find them that building," Bernardini said, "sustain our workforce, fill our vacant buildings and maintain or lower our advalorem tax rate."

Despite calls and a visit to her office, City Manager Jennene Norman-Vacha did not return messages for this story. Vice Mayor Richard Lewis also did not return messages left at his home number or through his e-mail.