TAMPA - There will be slightly less money for Tampa's redevelopment projects this year, and not just because there has been a significant drop in the city's property values.

When city officials were preparing the fiscal year 2009 budget, they predicted Hillsborough County voters would soundly reject a referendum on the ballot Nov. 4 to extend the county's Environmental Land Acquisition and Protection Program for 20 years.

Rejection of ELAPP would have meant more property tax proceeds flowing into coffers of the city's Community Redevelopment Areas, which collect a portion of the taxes from properties in these blighted neighborhoods for redevelopment projects.

That, however, didn't happen.

On Election Day, nearly 80 percent of Hillsborough voters approved an extension of the program, which purchases vacant land for environmental protection. The ELAPP tax collects 25 cents from every $1,000 of assessed property value.

Now the city is $165,265 short on redevelopment money.

"We didn't expect voters to approve the ELAPP referendum," said Julie Wisdom, a fiscal specialist with the city's department of economic and urban development.

Wisdom said the loss of revenue comes as the city is grappling with a significant drop in redevelopment money from Amendment 1 and steadily decreasing property values.

Tampa has nine redevelopment areas. The city expects to receive more than $33.6 million from Hillsborough property taxes this fiscal year for all of the Community Redevelopment Areas.

Today, the city's Community Redevelopment Areas board of directors is expected to revise this year's budget to account for the $165,265 shortfall. The board meets at 9 a.m. in city hall.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (813) 259-7679.