The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Andrew Powell

Florida follow-up audit finds discrepancies with economic incentive programs

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(The Center Square) — The Florida Auditor General recently published a follow-up audit of the Sunshine State’s economic incentives programs and found some uncorrected issues remain.

The Florida Department of Commerce assists the governor in working with the Legislature, state agencies, business leaders, and economic development professionals. For fiscal 2023-24, state lawmakers appropriated approximately $1.8 billion.

Together, they formulate plans to implement consistent policies and strategies that help promote economic opportunities for Floridians and serve as the state’s chief agency for business recruitment, expansion, and economic development. State law requires the department to contract an independent third party to verify that recipients comply with the terms set in their economic development incentive agreement.

(d3sign/Getty)

These independent contractors are required to have a level 2 background screening before they can access recipient information. Furthermore, state law requires all employees in positions of trust, responsibility, or sensitive location to undergo level 2 screenings before and during employment.

The auditor general found that the department had failed to evidence that all independent third-party contractors with access to confidential information had all had level 2 background screenings. This issue was found in a previous audit.

According to the audit report, the department had not yet addressed issues regarding access to the Salesforce web-based system, which is used to track the progress of economic development incentive applications and capture related data. The system was found to be available to some incentive recipients, third-party personnel, and division personnel up to 117 days after their employment or association with the department had ceased.

The auditor general recommended the department improve its controls over access to the system, to reduce the risk of unauthorized disclosure, modification, or destruction of department data and IT resources.

The report further noted issues around access controls to purchasing cards, stating that the department’s ex-employees had access to taxpayer dollars after they left their employment, in some instances up to 241 after.

Although there were no unauthorized purchases found, the auditor general recommended the department management work on promptly canceling the employees’ access upon termination.

A similar issue was found with FLAIR, which the department utilizes to authorize payments and record and report transactions. Ex-employees had access to FLAIR up to 450 days after they left department employment. The auditor general recommended that the department again promptly cut access once an employee is terminated.

Published August 14, 2024

Celebrate National Peach Month with peaches by the plenty

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Did you know August is National Peach Month? And rightfully so — August is the peak of peach harvest season. So how can you “celebrate” this versatile, juicy fruit this month? By enjoying them in different ways of course — and maybe learning a thing or two about them.

Have peaches in several ways, whether whole, sliced in a sandwich, grilled or in a jam. (Adobe Stock)

Delight in the sweetness in a variety of ways, courtesy of University of Utah Extension:

  • Fresh: whether as a snack or with a main meal, the sweet flavor of a fresh, ripe peach is hard to beat.
  • In a fruit salad: mix them in with berries, melon, grapes, kiwi, and so on.
  • Grilled: cut in half and grill until they caramelize, or thread through skewers with other fruit to make kabobs, for a more nutritious dessert.
  • In a fruit smoothie: use either fresh or frozen peaches and add in other fruits, yogurt and some orange juice.
  • Peach salsa: dice fresh peaches and add with red onion, cilantro and lime as a side dish, appetizer with chips, or as a topping for grilled fish.
  • Peach cobbler: bake this beloved dessert using sliced peaches, either fresh or canned in juice.
  • Peach jam: if you won’t finish all of your fresh peaches in time, make homemade peach jam or preserves.
  • In a main meal: such as a salad, on top of pork chops, or a peach-glazed chicken. Or swap out the jelly from a PB&J with some fresh peach slices instead.
Sweet homemade peach cobbler crisp with oat topping (Brent Hofacker/Getty)

In addition to the many ways of eating peaches, there are numerous fun facts about them, too:

  • Georgia is not the number one state in peach production. California and South Carolina are the top two, and Georgia is third. In fact, Georgia’s top fruit is the blueberry.
  • This sweet fruit has over 700 varieties.
  • They were discovered in China in 6000 BC. Back then, it was considered a luxury fruit and only enjoyed by those with royal ties. Once peaches spread to the Persian Empire, the Romans called them Persian Apples. 
  • China is the largest producer of peaches in the world.
  • Peaches are about 90% water and are high in Vitamins A, C, and E, fiber, potassium, and antioxidants.
  • Peaches are known for having fuzzy skin from fine hairs (called trichomes). They protect against pests and insects and help to hold moisture (making them extra juicy).
  • Nectarines are a variety of peaches, just with a smoother skin without the fuzz.
  • If the flesh separates easily from the pit, it is a “freestone.” If the flesh sticks to the pit, it is known as “clingstones.” Clingstones are a bit sweeter and best for canning, while freestones are best eaten fresh. You’re more likely to find a clingstone peach at a farmer’s market than a grocery store.
  • A peach is ripe when you notice the aroma and it slightly gives when you gently squeeze it.
  • Store unripe peaches in a closed paper bag on the counter. Once ripe, store at room temperature for one to two days. If you will not eat them that soon, put them in the refrigerator for three to five days.

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science Agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County. 

Need more ideas to do something peachy this summer?  Try these recipes from MyPlate.gov:

Peachy Peanut Butter Pita Pockets:

Ingredients
2 pita pockets (medium, whole wheat)
1/4 cup peanut butter (reduced fat, chunky)
1/2 apple (cored and thinly sliced)
1/2 banana (thinly sliced)
1/2 peach (fresh, thinly sliced)

Directions
Wash hands with soap and water.
Cut pitas in half to make 4 pockets and warm in the microwave for about 10 seconds to make them more flexible.
Carefully open each pocket and spread a thin layer of peanut butter on the inside walls.
Fill with a combination of apple, banana, and peach slices. Serve at room temperature.

Chicken Salad and Peach Sandwich:  

Ingredients
4 slices of whole-grain bread
1/2 cup cooked chicken (diced)
1/2 cup canned peach slices (drained and diced)
1 celery stalk
1/2 cup apples (Fuji, Gala or Braeburn)
1 small onion
1 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise (nonfat)
1 tablespoon chopped walnut

Directions
Mix together the chicken, apples, peaches, celery, onion, walnuts, and mayonnaise in a small bowl.
Spoon mixture onto 2 slices of the bread.

Peachy Pops:

Ingredients
2 peaches
2/3 cup yogurt, low-fat vanilla
2 cups orange juice
6 paper cups
6 spoons

Directions
Wash hands with soap and water.
Use a knife to remove the skin from the peaches, and to chop the peaches.
Spoon the peaches into each of the 6 paper cups.
Place the yogurt in a medium mixing bowl.
Slowly pour and stir the orange juice into the yogurt. Mix well.
Pour some of the juice and yogurt mix into each cup to cover the peaches.
Place a spoon in the center of each cup.
Cut 6 squares of aluminum foil big enough to cover the tops of cups. Stab each spoon handle through each piece of foil. The foil will hold the spoon in the center of the cup.
Place cups in the freezer for at least 4 hours.
Just before serving, peel the paper cups away from the pops to eat.

Published August 14, 2024

Proposed invasive species ordinance uprooted

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The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) were informed during their Aug. 6 meeting in Dade City that a proposed ordinance to regulate invasive species such as cogon grass, kudzu and English ivy, has been withdrawn from consideration.

The BCC wasn’t required to take any action on the proposed ordinance. It had been a controversial topic when the Pasco County Planning Commission reviewed it during their July 11 meeting in Dade City, as measures to regulate invasive plant species are already contained within part of the Pasco County Land Development Code (LDC) but haven’t been enforced. 

Cogon grass is considered an invasive species as it crowds out native plants. ((Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images))

Planning Commission members recommended changes be made to the LDC so steps could be taken to help eradicate invasive plant species and prevent their reoccurrence. Ways to enforce what’s already in the LDC were also recommended.

County staff members are following that recommendation and will present amendments to the LDC to the BCC at a future meeting. 

In other business at the Aug. 6 meeting, commissioners:

  • Approved an ordinance establishing the Hope Innovation District that will consist of roughly 775.6 acres, to be located east of the Suncoast Parkway, south of Ridge Road, and west of Sunlake Boulevard.

This Community Development District (CDD) is the site where Moffitt Cancer Center plans to make a major expansion into Pasco County.  

Plans call for 13,400,000-square-feet of development that will be assessed by the CDD. Types of development that may be assessed include Clinical, Research, Labs/Office, Amenities/Residential, Education, Light Manufacturing, a Future Community Partner Hospital, and Flex space. All internal roadways will be financed, owned, operated, and maintained by the CDD. The CDD will be responsible for maintaining the hardscape, landscape, and irrigation, including bike trails and sidewalks.

The life sciences park established in the CDD will bring together expertise from across fields such as biotechnology and manufacturing to accelerate progress in cancer and other diseases, according to a statement by Moffitt Cancer Center.

  • Approved a revised ground lease agreement with the Peachtree Group that became the new leaseholder for the four-story, 128-room Residence Inn by Marriott on March 29. The hotel’s address is 2867 Lajuana Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. It opened in 2017 and is on county-owned property adjacent to the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex. 

Michael Bernath, Peachtree’s senior vice president for acquisitions and dispositions, told commissioners that the current average daily rate (ADR) for occupancy of the hotel is 58.8%. Bernath made his remarks remotely due to inclement weather. 

District 5 Commissioner Jack Mariano expressed serious concerns about that number. He said that Peachtree should try to find some way to get that rate up higher. “We should be shooting for 100 percent,” Mariano said.

An ADR of even 80 to 85 percent would be difficult to achieve, remotely, Bernath said.

Mariano maintained that the higher rate being charged to rent rooms at the hotel is what was keeping the occupancy rates down.

Bernath replied that the rate charged at the hotel would be “what the market will bear.”

Commissioners approved extending the term of lease from 25 years, with three consecutive renewal terms of 10 years each, to 50 years, to accommodate Peachtree Group’s investment timeline and financial considerations.

Peachtree Group originally planned to inform commissioners of the ADR at five-year intervals. Commissioners agreed instead to have that information provided to them every three years during the term of the lease.  

  • Continued until Sept. 9 a zoning change requested by Crossways MPUD – Crossways 301 LLC for approximately 29.5 acres located in east Pasco County. The property is currently zoned A-C Agricultural Zoning District and the applicant wants it to be changed to a Master Planned Unit Development (MPUD) to allow for the development of up to 130 single-family detached dwelling units and associated infrastructure. Some residents in the area near the intersection of Old Lakeland Highway and U.S. Highway 98 have expressed concerns about the increased traffic they think would be created if that many homes were built on that property.

Published August 14, 2024

Florida recreational marijuana initiative has raised $66M

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(The Center Square) – Proponents of ballot initiatives that would legalize recreational marijuana and enshrine abortion rights in the Florida constitution have raised millions.

The two initiatives are among six that will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot and will require a 60% vote to earn a place in the state’s constitution.

Smart & Safe Florida is behind Florida Amendment 3, the Marijuana Legalization Initiative. It would allow residents age 21 or older the ability to purchase and consume marijuana for recreational, nonmedicinal purposes. 

According to the Florida Department of State, the political committee has raised $66.6 million toward the effort and has spent $54 million. 

Nearly $59.8 million since 2022 has come from one donor, Clearwater-based cannabis retailer Trulieve Cannabis. 

The two opposition groups, Florida Voters Against Extremism and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Florida Freedom Fund, have raised only $125,100. 

In 2016, Florida voters by 71%-29% adopted a medical marijuana initiative.

Amendment 4 would provide a constitutional right to abortion before a fetus was viable outside the womb, or if needed to protect a women’s health. 

Floridians Protecting Freedom is the group that is behind the initiative. According to state data, it has raised nearly $39.6 million and spent $23.2 million. 

The biggest donor is the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, an Oklahoma-based group that has contributed $5 million. Democrat activist Marsha Laufer has donated $4.6 million. 

Opposition groups such as Florida Voters Against Extremism and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Florida Freedom Fund have been swamped in the fundraising battle, raising only $368,650. 

The other four amendments on the ballot deal with various issues.

Amendment 1 would change school board elections to partisan beginning in November 2026. Amendment 2 would establish a constitutional right to hunt and fish. 

Amendment 5 would mandate an annual inflation adjustment for the value of the homestead property tax exemption. Amendment 6 would strike a constitutional provision providing public campaign financing for candidates who agree to spending limits.

Published August 14, 2024

Guns-rights group challenges ban on open-carry in Florida

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(The Center Square) – Gun Owners of America and the Gun Owners Foundation have filed a federal lawsuit in Florida that challenges the state’s ban on open carry of firearms.

“Florida lawmakers claim to be pro-gun, but year after year, they’ve refused to repeal the 1987 ban on open carry, leaving Floridians in the very anti-gun company of New York, Illinois, and California where this is also prohibited,” said Erich Pratt, Gun Owners of America’s senior vice president.

(Erich Schlegel/Getty)

“Governor Ron DeSantis has previously expressed support for open carry, but unfortunately, the Republican leadership in the Legislature in Tallahassee has made quite clear they have no intention of repealing this ban,” Gun Owners of America, a non-profit pro-Second Amendment lobbyist group based in California, said in a press release about the lawsuit.

In Florida, the open-carry is only allowed as a self-defense chemical spray or a non-lethal stun gun.

The ACLU has opposed open-carry laws.

“Open carry can disrupt the public square through the intimidating display of lethal weapons,” Florida ACLU said in 2021. “For example, in 2020, armed protesters forced the suspension of the activities of democratically-elected state legislatures in Michigan and Oregon.”

The ACLU didn’t respond to an email seeking comment.

In February 2023, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law that allowed Florida residents to carry concealed weapons without a government-issued permit.

Published August 14, 2024

Report: Florida receives nation’s second-highest grade for religious liberty

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(The Center Square) — The Sunshine State ranks second in the nation for the protection of religious liberty, according to a new report from the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy.

The report, “Religious Liberty in the States,” is a project that measures legal safeguards for religious liberty across the U.S. During a panel discussion on the report, Jordan Ballor, director of research at CRCD, was joined by project director Mark David Hall and associate director Paul Mueller.

A list of safeguards was used to measure and compare each state — including a state’s policies on absentee voting, general conscience, abortion refusal, sterilization refusal, contraception refusal, health insurance mandates, non-participation by clergy, religious entity refusal, public office recusal, for-profit business nonparticipation, clergy as mandatory reporters, houses of worship protected from closing, ceremonial use of alcohol by minors, religious freedom restoration act, childhood immunization requirements and excused absences for religious reasons.

The Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Downtown Tampa. (Tony Arruza/Getty)

“Florida improved from number eight in the nation in 2023 to number two in 2024 because it passed general conscience and hospital protections,” Hall told The Center Square. “These laws ensure that medical professionals and institutions are not compelled to participate in medical procedures to which they have religious objections.”

Illinois, Florida, Montana and Arkansas are the top five states for religious freedom, with Mississippi and Ohio tied for fifth.

“The three most improved states this year are Montana, New Hampshire and Florida. These states saw double-digit improvements in how they protect religious liberty and we see that as very promising,” Mueller said.

According to the report, Florida improved by over 13%, moving into second place with an overall score of 73.2%, while Illinois is in first place with an overall score of 80.4%. Data further shows that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act is present in 50% of U.S. states.

The most prevalent safeguards are health insurance mandates, which are found in 89% of states, the immunization requirement exemption, which is in 88% of states and absentee voting, which is in 84% of states.

The report notes the Florida Legislature should be given significant credit for protecting religious freedom. Florida passed several new laws in the past year, namely to add additional protection and expand general conscience provisions intended to protect medical professionals.

A recent study from the Cato Institute, “Freedom in the 50 States,” ranked states based on several factors, including regulations around business, Second Amendment protections, drug legalization, incarceration rates and taxation. Overall, Florida ranks second behind New Hampshire.

Florida also ranks first fiscally for government consumption and government employment, while ranking first overall for being fiscally responsible. Florida comes in the middle of the pack for cash and security assets, health insurance and lawsuits.

Published August 14, 2024

Pinellas County approves Tampa Bay stadium deal

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(The Center Square) — The Tampa Bay Rays moved closer to getting a new stadium after the Pinellas County Commission approved the deal on July 30. County commissioners approved the redevelopment project by a 5-2 vote. 

Christopher Morel #24 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins at Tropicana Field on July 30, 2024. (Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty)

The project will be a collaboration between the city of St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay Rays, which will include a multi-purpose stadium in the heart of the city’s Historic Gas Plant District.

The domed stadium will replace the existing 30,000-seat Tropicana Field and will be accompanied by a neighborhood revamp, new infrastructure and affordable housing. The district will also include restaurants, hotels, retail shops and medical space.

A total of $312.5 million in hotel taxes are being contributed to kick off construction — $287.5 million will start construction, while another $142 million will be spent on infrastructure.

View during a game at Tropicana Field on March 30, 2023 in St Petersburg, Florida. Construction for a new stadium could break ground as early as next year. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty)

“The economic growth stemming from this partnership with the city of St. Petersburg and the Rays will help fuel the Board’s future ability to fund key services in areas like law enforcement, housing, emergency response and more. It honors what was voted on by residents decades ago – keeping baseball in St. Petersburg for all Pinellas residents to enjoy,” Commission Chair Kathleen Peters said.

The collaboration between the county and Rays-Hines is set to be one of the biggest development projects in county history. It will cost approximately $1.6 billion for the city and over $2 billion in total.

Construction could break ground as early as next year. It is expected to generate more than $1.04 billion in tax revenue over the next 30 years, create more than 15,000 jobs and produce more than $400 million in economic output annually.

However, the project has been met with some pushback since it was announced. In April, a report from Florida TaxWatch raised concerns about the redevelopment project going over budget and urged officials to consider the risks closely before making a decision.

According to Florida TaxWatch, the city would invest $1.6 billion — this includes not only the stadium and supporting infrastructure but also $411 in lost property taxes and another $545 million in lost city revenue after the city sold 64 acres to Rays-Hines.

Pinellas County alone would lose $222 million in property taxes and there is no way to recover those funds, according to the report.

Published August 14, 2024

An experience they won’t forget

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(Courtesy of Deborah Erdahl)

The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club raised $500 to cover the cost of member Shirley Willhite’s flight to escort veteran Bob Prairie to tour the memorials and monuments in Washington D.C., through Honor Flight West Central Florida. Prairie is a Vietnam veteran who served in the Navy. Seventy-five veterans were recognized on the 50th Honor Flight to visit Arlington Cemetery, the Korean War and World War II memorials, the Jefferson Memorial and the Lincoln Monument. The return flight at the St. Petersburg/Clearwater airport was greeted with applause, music and flag-waving. For more information about the woman’s club, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org or its Facebook page.

Overpass at U.S. 41 and S.R. 54 anticipated to help resolve traffic situation

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Planners with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced earlier this year an overpass is likely to be the best way to help resolve the traffic situation at the intersection of U.S. 41 and S.R. 54 in Land O’ Lakes.

The anticipated cost of the overpass was approximately $222 million when FDOT officials discussed plans for it in February. However, the cost has reportedly since increased to approximately $260 million. 

An overpass at the I-4 and S.R. 46 intersection in Sanford (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) agrees with FDOT that the intersection of U.S. 41 and S.R. 54 is one of the busiest in Pasco County. The MPO is the lead transportation-planning agency in Pasco County, serving the municipalities of Zephyrhills, San Antonio, St. Leo, New Port Richey, Port Richey and Dade City.

Approximately 124,000 vehicles travel through the intersection daily and that number is anticipated to increase to 176,000 by 2045, FDOT said.

The intersection also has been identified by FDOT as one that has a crash average higher than the state average. A total of 442 crashes were reported there from 2012 to 2016, in which 90% of the crashes involved property damage, while the remaining 10% involved injuries. A single fatal crash was reported during the five-year analysis period, according to FDOT. 

The intersection reconstruction is among the biggest projects on the work plan for Pasco County, according to Tania Gorman, MPO’s executive director.

FDOT is reportedly in the process of conducting a Project Development & Environment Study for the construction of the proposed overpass. Its current schedule calls for property to begin to be acquired in 2028 for the improvements to the intersection, according to Gorman.

The design of the proposed overpass is still being reviewed by FDOT but it could reportedly be similar to overpasses that have been constructed in other locations, such as the one at Roosevelt Boulevard and U.S. 19 in Pinellas County. That type of overpass would be for through-traffic with turns made at the ground level.

It’s anticipated FDOT will hold a public hearing regarding this proposed intersection improvement project during the fourth quarter of 2024. The design phase will be conducted between 2025-2027 and right of way acquisition will likely occur between 2028-2030.

Funding has not yet been obtained for the proposed intersection improvement project, according to FDOT. 

Published July 31, 2024

State officials predict Florida K-12 enrollment will continue to grow

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(The Center Square) — Florida economists have suggested that full-time enrollment in Florida’s schools has increased over recent years but still remains below pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels.

The Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research (EDR) held a two-part education estimating conference in late June and July for Florida’s Public Schools Capital Outlay Full Time Equivalent (COFTE) Membership — and forecasts show a small but steady increase in enrollments.

(kali9/Getty Images)

During the pandemic, enrollments in Florida schools decreased by 6% in the fall of 2020. While they have begun to increase, they remain 3% below their prior level. Economists noted that this is due to more school options being presented to parents, including homeschooling options and access to scholarships.

According to state data, full-time equivalent enrollment from pre-K through 12th grade had a total of 2.37 million students in 2022-2023, an increase of over 32,000 or 1.4% over the previous year.

This was, however, less than anticipated from the 2023 forecast, and EDR economists pointed out more parents are choosing a different setting for kindergarten.

“The take-home point here is that kindergarten came in less than anticipated, which is a reflection of families choosing a non-COFTE setting for their kindergartener,” Elizabeth Goodman from EDR said during the conference.

The conference projected in 2023-2024, student numbers will again increase by 0.2% or 3,774 full-time students. Into the future, enrollment is forecast to continue growth trends, projected to grow by 0.5% in 2024-2025, and 0.7% in 2025-2026.

State Pre-K numbers only include preschool-aged children with disabilities and children whose parents are in the Teenage Parent Program. Estimates also do not include children participating exclusively in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Program who receive services through the public school system.

School districts were invited to submit comments on the June forecast between July 2 and July 12. Five school districts — Hernando, Brevard, Flagler, Osceola and St. Lucie — requested workbooks.

Flagler requested a change to the conference’s forecast model, asking to use the two most recent years. Flagler’s preliminary forecast was 12,112.39 membership. The district’s new forecast for the projected 2024-2025 is now 12,242.64 membership, and the conference adopted it.

Published July 31, 2024