City Of Altoona, FL's Recovery Plan Unveiled; Fleet To Be Affected

Altoona's Act 47 consultant, who has been counseling on the Distressed Municipalities Program, presented a financial recovery plan that recommends an increase in earned income and property taxes, a freeze in worker wages, and voluntary consolidation of services with various agencies and municipalities on November 13. It called for no layoffs and only a slight reduction of the workforce through attrition. Overall, the plan is less radical than it might have been.

Along with tax increases, a major part of Altoona's plan required sharing of services, particularly in the area of their fleets. Among the specific suggestions: consolidation of fleet maintenance among the city, the Altoona Area School District, the Altoona Water Authority, Blair County, and other local governments "to reduce costs and duplication of facilities" and equipment. The plan calls for seeking ways to cooperate with other municipalities and agencies on police services, accounting, information technology, health insurance, vehicle maintenance, and more.

Generally, residents don't care how a municipality gets its work done, as long as it gets the work done, said John Filan, a member of the consultant team that suggested the changes and recommendations. There are 155 recommendations overall.

Act 47 requires the consultant to monitor performance for four months after plan approval.

But that limit isn't absolute, John Espenshade of consultation firm Stevens & Lee said. Council retains principal responsibility for running city government, Espenshade said.

It's all "a bit overwhelming," Councilman Bruce Kelley said.

But the plan includes both the short- and long-term solutions council had requested, and may help the city escape Act 47 before too long, Mayor Bill Schirf said.