Despite what she acknowledged were “unprecedented” obstacles presented because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor offered an optimistic view of her city’s future while presenting her fiscal year 2021 budget to the City Council on Thursday.

In fact, her $1.254 billion budget is the biggest in the city’s history, and $213 million more than her first budget that she presented to the council a year ago.

Castor also acknowledged the stark reality that the city has lost nearly $24 million in reduced revenues since the crisis hit in March, including drops in sales taxes, electric franchise fees, electric utility fees and business taxes. She’s trimmed nearly $12 million to balance the budget by freezing any new hires, restructuring debt and postponing some projects.

Castor gave credit to the solid fiscal management that the city enjoyed under previous mayors Pam Iorio and Bob Buckhorn that has allowed the city to be nimble enough so far to avoid having to raise property taxes, cut city staff or reduce essential services.

But Dennis Rogero, the city’s Chief Financial Officer, said that next year’s projections paint a far more foreboding financial picture. That’s why Castor said it’s essential that Congress approve funding for major U.S. cities like Tampa. 

“While Congress intended for city funding to come through states and counties, it’s clear that direct aid from the federal government is the only way to ensure that we have the support we need to recover from COVID.”

In fact, the “HEROES” bill passed by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives in May included more than $131 billion for metropolitan cities.

However, the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate never voted on it. Now leadership in Congress is negotiating with the White House on the next economic recovery act. It’s unknown if there will be money for the cities if and when that package ultimately comes together.

Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera said he was pleased to hear the mayor propose allocating funds for items like a new fire station in New Tampa and other programs for East Tampa – but he said a lot depends on getting federal assistance.

“These are aspirations that are obviously going to be dependent upon the economy not further tanking, number one, and then number two - continued federal assistance to keep our city moving on our core functions that we have as the city of Tampa,” he said.

The mayor laid out five goals she has for the city over the next year and beyond, specifically listing transportation, development services, workforce development, affordable housing, sustainability and resiliency. 

Regarding affordable housing, she said she her goal was to add an additional 10,000 housing units by the end of 2027.

On sustainability, she spoke about creating a climate action and equity plan, focused on climate preparedness, energy efficiency and environmental protection. 

And Castor, the former Police Chief of Tampa from 2009-2015, said flat out that “we are not going to defund the police” and called the TPD “the best police department in the United States” while adding that she wanted to “invest- not divest” with the department.

Those comments didn’t play well with the handful of public speakers who addressed the council following the mayor’s presentation.

“If we take $30 million from the police budget, we can fund one million jobs at at $15 (an hour),”said ErrDaisha Floyd, who also called for the firing of Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan.

“We are calling for at least 19 percent of the budget that is being allocated under the TPD to be moved into community programs,” added activist Angelo D’Angelo.

“Our budget militarizes the police and does not go far enough to address climate change,” said Debbie King with Mi Familia Vota

The mayor and the city council need to come to agreement and pass the budget by October 1.