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Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy. We need your help. More Info ### I would like to contribute One Time Monthly Yearly Join Now ![](\\" ![](\\" Rick Baker stated on September 26, 2017 in a comment during a mayoral forum: While Mayor Rick Kriseman said he would dip into reserves this year because of Hurricane Irma, he \"went into the emergency reserves before Irma ever hit.\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" true/3d4df195c595a07e3fd69b5e4aab3e3c.jpg.\\") ![\\"true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") * City Budget * Corrections and Updates * Florida * Rick Baker ![\\"Allison](\\" By Allison Graves September 29, 2017 # Rick Kriseman wrongly suggests city didn\'t dip into reserves before Irma St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and former Mayor Rick Baker offered conflicting stories about the city’s budget at their first mayoral forum since the August primary election. According to Baker, Kriseman tapped into emergency reserves this year in order to balance the city’s budget, despite record revenues. Kriseman defended himself by implying that the reach for reserves had not yet happened: \"We’ve been investing in reserves every year. If we go and have to dip into reserves for this year it will be because of Hurricane Irma and the losses that have been sustained by the city in overtime.\" Baker didn’t let Kriseman have the last word. \"Mr. Kriseman must be able to read the future, because he went into the emergency reserves before Irma ever hit,\" Baker said. \"I don’t know how he did that.\" Many in the audience erupted into laughter and clapped for Baker. But was Baker’s retort right? Show us the money Basically, we found that the city has tapped into reserves. The city has plans to repay the loans. In May, the city council approved the transfer of $7.6 million to the Water Resources Capital Projects Fund to expedite infrastructure upgrades, which included projects to increase capacity at the water reclamation facilities. Half of the $7.6 million ($3.8 million) was taken out of the city’s economic stability fund — one of several types of reserve funds, and one specifically meant to cushion city coffers against economic downturns and natural disasters. The other half came from a different pot of money: the Water Resources department’s operating fund. The fund had an unappropriated balance, which, by definition, is not technically a reserve. (The Water Resources Department manages the city’s sewage and almost like an independent business.) Even though the city does not define this pool of money as reserves, some leaders consider it one and the same. In a Tampa Bay Times article, city council member Ed Montanari described the whole $7.6 million as reserves. #### Featured Fact-check ![](\\" ![](\\" Social Media stated on September 2, 2024 in social media posts The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is on the way to Aurora, Colorado, to confront a Venezuelan gang. ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") By Loreben Tuquero • September 9, 2024 There are many rules that govern whether reserves from the economic stability fund can be used, and one of the more relevant ones for this fact-check is the requirement for the city to repay the $3.8 million loan. That rules applies to reserves in the economic stability fund, but the city still hopes and has plans to replenish the whole $7.6 million loan after Water Resources department issues bonds. City officials said that would be in next couple months. So in this case, the city would issue bonds and sell them to investors. The city will pay back the the investors who bought one of those bonds in chunks. So the city is replenishing the money with more borrowed money. Kriseman’s team considers this \"paying back\" the loan, but that’s not how everyone in the city sees it. Montanari told the Tampa Bay Times he didn\'t agree with the city\'s decision to take $7.6 million to pay for sewer projects. \"I don\'t like the fact that we\'re taking money from reserves and replacing it with borrowed money,\" Montanari told the Times. \"I just want to state that on the record.\" So, if the city already tapped into reserves, why did Kriseman make it seem like it hadn’t? Kriseman’s campaign clarified that his comments about reserves were \"strictly about the city response to Hurricane Irma.\" \"While the city has not yet utilized the emergency reserves for Hurricane Irma, it is very likely that we will,\" said Kriseman spokesperson Ben Kirby. Kirby said the city will probably have to allocate reserves to pay city workers for the overtime they worked during the storm. He added that the majority of eligible expenses can be reimbursed by Federal Emergency Management Agency. Since Irma hit, the city requested FEMA assistance. Our ruling Baker claimed that Kriseman tapped into reserves before Hurricane Irma ever hit. That is accurate. Under Kriseman, the city tapped into reserves early this year to cover the costs of infrastructure upgrades, which included projects to increase capacity at the water reclamation facilities. The the city plans to issue bonds to repay the loan, but there’s no saying when that will happen. Furthermore, bonds are just borrowed money. We rate this claim True. Share the Facts 2017-09-29 13:39:08 UTC PolitiFact ![\\"PolitiFact\\"](\\" logo-big.jpg\\"/) 6 1 7 ![\\"PolitiFact](\\" true.png\\") PolitiFact Rating: True While Mayor Rick Kriseman said he would dip into reserves this year because of Hurricane Irma, he \"went into the emergency reserves before Irma ever hit.\" Rick Baker Mayoral candidate ![](\\" in a comment during a mayoral forum Tuesday, September 26, 2017 2017-09-26 Read More info This story previously misstated Kirby\'s job title. #### Read About Our Process The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter ### Our Sources Email exchanges, Brigitta Shouppe, campaign spokeswoman for Rick Baker, Sept. 26-27, 2017 Email exchange, Ben Kirby, Kriseman spokesman, Sept. 26-27, 2017 Interview, Tom Greene, St. Petersburg budget director, Sept. 27, 2017 Tampa Bay Times, \"St. Petersburg council sets millage rate in first budget hearing,\" Sept. 21, 2017 St. Petersburg City Council Consent Agenda, May 18, 2017 ## Browse the Truth-O-Meter ### More by Allison Graves slide 4 to 6 of 15 ![](\\" ![](\\" Bloggers stated on May 15, 2018 in a post on Facebook: \"Legendary Actor Sidney Poitier: Donald Trump might become \'The Greatest Of All Time.\' \" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • May 17, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" The Collective super PAC stated on May 11, 2018 in an ad: Says Gwen Graham \"voted against President Obama 52 percent of the time.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • May 17, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Bloggers stated on May 14, 2018 in a post on the Internet: Says Julia Roberts told Celine Dion, \"If you hate Trump you can go in your country.\" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • May 15, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Democratic Governors Association stated on July 13, 2018 in a post on Medium: Says Adam Putnam \"backed a water bill that gutted water quality regulations.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • July 18, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Rick Scott stated on June 13, 2018 in an ad: Says Sen. Bill Nelson \"voted for higher taxes\" 349 times. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Allison Graves • July 5, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Ron DeSantis stated on June 28, 2018 in a Fox News debate: Says Adam Putnam \"endorsed the Schumer-Obama Gang of Eight immigration amnesty.\" ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • June 29, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Bill Nelson stated on June 21, 2018 in an ad: Says he \"actually wrote the bipartisan law that makes it illegal to drill off Florida’s coast.\" ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • June 29, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Adam Putnam stated on June 7, 2018 in an interview with Fox News: Florida taxpayers \"pay tens of millions of dollars a year to feed and house in our prison system criminal illegal aliens.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • June 26, 2018 ![](\\" mugs-Anonymous_people_/398fc0baac700f9aa5dd88786f3cd62e.jpg\\") ![](\\" mugs-Anonymous_people_/d0c13da11ad4bc5f48f6b798046f5ef9.jpg\\") New Republican PAC stated on June 11, 2018 in a political ad: Says Bill Nelson voted for \"cuts to Medicare providers\" and voted to weaken \"Social Security protections\" as a U.S. senator. ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • June 15, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Andrew Gillum stated on June 20, 2018 in a debate: Under Philip Levine, Miami Beach \"passed a resolution to ban assault rifles, which was not enforceable and never enforced. He passed a resolution to raise the minimum wage, which actually no one got the benefit of because it was not enforced.\" ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • June 9, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Florida Democratic Party stated on June 6, 2018 in in a press release: \"Flip Flop! After opposing term limits for decades, Adam Putnam adopts Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis’ position.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • June 8, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Ron DeSantis stated on June 2, 2018 in during a BBQ : \"The bulk of the problem with the opioid epidemic is the fentanyl and all the synthetic drugs coming across the southern border.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • June 7, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Florida House Majority Office stated on May 17, 2018 in a video: It is a \"myth\" that \"per-student funding only rose by 47 cents this year.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • May 30, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Senate Majority PAC stated on May 21, 2018 in in an ad: Says Bill Nelson is \"one of America’s most independent senators.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • May 24, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Bloggers stated on May 14, 2018 in a post on Facebook: \"BREAKING NEWS: Donald Trump On His Way To Donate Kidney To Melania Trump.\" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • May 17, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Bloggers stated on May 15, 2018 in a post on Facebook: \"Legendary Actor Sidney Poitier: Donald Trump might become \'The Greatest Of All Time.\' \" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • May 17, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" The Collective super PAC stated on May 11, 2018 in an ad: Says Gwen Graham \"voted against President Obama 52 percent of the time.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • May 17, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Bloggers stated on May 14, 2018 in a post on the Internet: Says Julia Roberts told Celine Dion, \"If you hate Trump you can go in your country.\" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • May 15, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Democratic Governors Association stated on July 13, 2018 in a post on Medium: Says Adam Putnam \"backed a water bill that gutted water quality regulations.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • July 18, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Rick Scott stated on June 13, 2018 in an ad: Says Sen. Bill Nelson \"voted for higher taxes\" 349 times. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Allison Graves • July 5, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Ron DeSantis stated on June 28, 2018 in a Fox News debate: Says Adam Putnam \"endorsed the Schumer-Obama Gang of Eight immigration amnesty.\" ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Allison Graves • June 29, 2018 ### Rick Kriseman wrongly suggests city didn\'t dip into reserves before Irma * ![](\\" ![](\\" Threads posts stated on September 13, 2024 in a post on Threads: “ABC lost $27M in ad revenue after advertisers pulled ads from the network after the way they hosted the debate\" on Sept. 10. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Madison Czopek • September 15, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 8, 2024 in a social media post: Photos that show lists of school names are “school shooting lists.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Andy Nguyen • September 15, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Instagram posts stated on September 12, 2024 in an Instagram post: A video shows a body that Israel embedded with a bomb exploding during a Palestinian funeral procession. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Sofia Ahmed • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 11, 2024 in a post: “ESPN has fired Shannon Sharpe.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Gideon Hess • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Threads posts stated on September 12, 2024 in a post on Threads: An image shows Travis Kelce responding to Elon Musk X post that followed Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Madison Czopek • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Instagram posts stated on September 12, 2024 in an Instagram post: Former President Donald Trump admitted during the Sept. 10 presidential debate that he “blew up the Nord Stream pipeline.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Loreben Tuquero • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 10, 2024 in a Facebook post: Patron, Don Julio and Pink Whitney tequila recalled because they contained fecal matter. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Jeff Cercone • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Elissa Slotkin stated on September 11, 2024 in a TV ad: Mike Rogers supported “laws that could eliminate IVF and birth control.” ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Caleb McCullough • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Instagram posts stated on September 11, 2024 in an Instagram post: \"Debate moderators made the false claim to Donald Trump that there is nowhere in the United States where abortion is legal up until birth.\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Jeff Cercone • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 12, 2024 in a Facebook post: ABC News fired presidential debate moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Sofia Ahmed • September 13, 2024 Load more ### Support independent fact-checking. 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While Mayor Rick Kriseman said he would dip into reserves this year because of Hurricane Irma he went into the emergency reserves before Irma ever hit