The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Andrew Powell

Florida officials track effects of new laws on state revenues

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(The Center Square) — Florida officials have examined several bills signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis to determine how they’ll affect the state’s revenues. 

Officials analyzed several bills during a revenue estimating conference that are tied to House Bill 5001, the state’s fiscal 2024-2025 budget, and HB 5003, which is the measure that implements it.

(Florida Senate Majority Office/Facebook )

HB 1301 will authorize the Florida Department of Transportation to retain interest earnings on funds appropriated to implement the Moving Florida Forward Plan. The funds will be held in reserve; any interest earned on transferred funds must be used by the department to implement the plan. Analysts found that the change will have no impact on the General Revenue or State Trust funds.

HB 1285 will amend Florida statutes to allow Miami Dade College, Polk State College and Tallahassee Community College to charge an amount of $290 per credit hour for nonresident tuition and fees for distance learning. The institutions will be able to phase in this fee by degree program.

Analysts stated that if the three colleges immediately implemented the maximum fee, the total fiscal impact for FY 2024-25 would have been a loss of over $4.6 million. However, institutions plan on phasing in the program. If 5% of non-Florida residents participate, the total impact will be reduced by $234,897.18.

HB 7073 has a proposed change that specifies if a discretionary sales tax has been collected but not expended by a county, municipality, school board or other entity that those proceeds must be transferred to the Florida Department of Revenue within 60 days from the date of final adjudication. These funds must then be held in the Discretionary Sales Surtax Clearing House Trust Fund in reserve for appropriation.

Senate Bill 994 will change how school traffic zone violations are collected and disbursed. If a violation is enforced by a school bus infraction detection system, the $25 fine would go to the participating school district, rather than into the Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund of the Florida Department of Health. Analysts stated that the change will have an indeterminate impact on the state budget.

HB 1425 would eliminate the minimum-risk nonresidential commitment level for youth. Previously, the court would order a parent to pay a cost of care fee of $1 per day. The Department of Juvenile Justice stated that courts will likely order probation instead, also at $1 per day. Analysts anticipate no impact on the budget.

Published June 19, 2024

Kennedy on Florida presidential ballot as Reform Party candidate

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(The Center Square) – Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will appear on Florida ballots as the Reform Party candidate after the Florida Division of Elections recertified its party status on June 7.

“We’re thrilled to give Floridians an independent option this November,” said Reform Party of Florida Chairwoman Jenniffer Desatoff in a news release. “We’ve been eagerly waiting to collaborate with the Kennedy campaign here in Florida and make history together.”

The party’s national committee nominated Kennedy and his running mate Nicole Shanahan two weeks ago to be their candidates.

More importantly, the move allows the third-party candidate to raise more money.

Now that he has a party nomination, the party can raise an additional $41,300 from donors previously limited to $6,600 each.

Ross Perot supporters founded the party in 1996. The party said in the release it has spent $15 million on a ballot access operation to ensure Kennedy and Shanahan will appear on ballots in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.

The ticket is officially on the ballot in nine states – Utah, Michigan, California, Delaware, Oklahoma, Hawaii, Texas, South Carolina and Florida — and has collected enough signatures for ballot access in nine other states.

Published June 19, 2024

Florida to host invasive python hunting competition in August

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(The Center Square) — Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez announced on May 30 the Sunshine State again will welcome professionals and novices for the upcoming 2024 Florida Python Challenge.

Nunez said registration for the Florida Python Challenge is open. Participants must complete online training to participate in the 10-day competition planned for Aug. 9 through Aug. 19.

In 2023, over 1,000 participants from 35 different states participated in the challenge with more than $25,000 in prizes.

(Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States, Public domain)

“Back in 2019, Governor DeSantis prioritized making sure that the conservation of Florida’s natural resources was something that our administration was going to champion, and I would say that he has delivered,” Nunez said.

On DeSantis’ second day in office, Nunez said he called for $2.5 billion to be invested during his first term to protect Florida’s water resources and other unique ecosystems like the Everglades.

The Legislature has appropriated a further $3.5 billion to conservation efforts over the next four years, and Nunez added that this reaffirms DeSantis’ commitment to protecting Florida’s natural beauty.

“So we’re well on our way to not only meeting that goal but surpassing it,” Nunez said. “We’re investing $3.1 billion this term, bringing our total investment since 2019 to a record-breaking $6.5 billion for Everglades restoration and water quality improvement.” 

Part of the funding goes toward protecting Florida’s native animals, which are currently threatened by the Burmese python, an invasive species from Asia whose population is growing in the Everglades.

“The Burmese python, as many of you know, is an invasive species that has wreaked havoc on our Everglades ecosystem and is a threat to native wildlife,” Nunez said. “They prey upon native species, they compete with native wildlife for food and habitat, and they can also spread non-native diseases.”

Nunez said the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission is committed to working with partners to preserve natural resources and wants to continue this for years to come.

“For us, the Florida Everglades is a valuable ecosystem that we will always strive to protect and preserve,” Nunez said. “It contains an abundance of habitats and species and they are home to many of Florida’s landmark species such as the Florida panther, the alligator, wading birds and many other native species.”

For more information, visit https://flpythonchallenge.org/.

Published June 19, 2024

U.S. Navy sailor to compete in Warrior Games

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Navy Information Technician 2nd Class Ainesey “Iggy” Inguanzo (Courtesy of U.S. Navy)

Navy Information Technician 2nd Class Ainesey “Iggy” Inguanzo, of Spring Hill, will compete in the Department of Defense (DoD) Warrior Games Challenge, June 21 to June 30, at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, according to a news release. More than 250 seriously wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans will take part in the 10 days of competition that highlights “the exceptional physical skills and mental toughness” of its competitors, according to the release. Inguanzo, who suffered a serious foot injury, will compete in archery, indoor rowing, shooting, sitting volleyball and swimming. For more information, visit DoDWarriorGames.com.

Local tennis players to attend military academies, play in Olympics

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Two local high school seniors from the Saddlebook Preparatory tennis academy have received appointments to military academies, according to a news release. Ji Soo Oh will attend the US Naval Academy and Maya Michalski will attend the Air Force Academy, and both will play tennis for their respective academies.

Three additional players from Saddlebrook will compete in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games — Gaby Dabrowski will represent Canada in women’s doubles, Luisa Stefani will represent Brazil in women’s doubles, and Hubi Hurkacz will represent Poland in men’s singles, according to the release.

Ji Soo Oh will attend the US Naval Academy (Courtesy of Saddelbrook Preparatory School)
Maya Michalski will attend the Air Force Academy.

Business Digest 06/19/2024

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Belmar Pharmacy ribbon-cutting (Courtesy of Pasco EDC)

Belmar Pharmacy opens
The Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC) has welcomed Belmar Pharmacy to Pasco County, according to a news release.

The company has invested $15 million in a 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art compounding facility within Asturia Corporate Center in Odessa, where it expects to add 150 new professional positions over the next three years.

Belmar is the largest national compounding pharmacy organization focused on hormone health and wellness, the release says.

NTBC Lunch and Learn
The North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) will host a “Lunch N Learn” session on “Navigating Advertising Trends in Today’s Market,” presented by Jessica Petroski, on June 20 at 11:30 a.m., at the NTBC Suncoast Office, 16703 Early Riser Ave., Land O’ Lakes. Attendance costs $15 and seating is limited. For more information, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

Women-n-Charge meeting
Women-n-Charge will meet on June 26, at Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. Doors open for registration, early networking and vendor shopping at 11:15 a.m., followed by the meeting at noon. The cost for members is $21; guests are $25. Payment should be made by May 20. Register online at Women-n-Charge.com/meetings/. For more information and to RSVP (required), email .

NTBC Member Orientation
The North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) also will host a new member orientation with chamber president/CEO Hope Kennedy, on June 26 at 9 a.m., at the NTBC Suncoast Office, 16703 Early Riser Ave., Land O’ Lakes. Attendance is free and registration is required. For more information, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

City of Zephyrhills Career Fair
The City of Zephyrhills will host a Career Fair on June 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St. Call 813-780-0064 for information.

SunLake High School bands seeks sponsors
The Bands of Sunlake High School, known as the “Soaring Sound,” are seeking sponsors for the 2024-2025 season, according to a news release. The Marching Band will be competing in the Bands of America in Orlando and Indoor Percussion and Winter Guard will compete in the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio. There are four levels of sponsorship packages ranging from $250 to $1,000 offering various promotion opportunities. Interested businesses should contact Band Director Alan Bonko at .

Pasco County Farm Bureau visits Congress
Members of the Pasco County Farm Bureau visited with Florida’s Congressional delegation in Washington D.C., May 14 to May 16 to discuss various federal policies that affect farmers and ranchers, including priorities for the 2024 Farm Bill and agricultural labor reform, according to a news release.

The Pasco County Farm Bureau is headquartered in Dade City and serves over 3,000 member-families, the release says.

 

Sheriff Chris Nocco seeks 9% budget increase

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The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) was recently told the Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) needs to hire 40 new deputies because of the explosive population growth the county is experiencing, as was discussed during the June 4 BOCC meeting.

Sheriff Chris Nocco shared the staffing needs of his office during an April 16 workshop with commissioners and reiterated those needs, among others, in a budget request he submitted on April 25.

Sheriff Chris Nocco (Pasco Sheriff’s Office Facebook page)

The PSO needs a 9% increase in its budget for fiscal year 2024-2025 that begins on Oct. 1 and ends on Sept. 30, Nocco’s request said. The office currently receives $150 million and Nocco is requesting $165.5 million for the upcoming fiscal year.

And that 9% increase isn’t fully reflective of the full funding needs of the PSO, Nocco said in a memo to commissioners outlining some of the specific reasons behind his request.

The sheriff’s office currently receives 40% of the new property taxes the county receives because of the county’s growth. The office has been offered 10 new deputies a year in the past. 

Commissioners have approved 10,000 new residences since July 2023 — this is in addition to the number of new businesses and industries that have opened in Pasco County since then — leading to the projected need of 40 more deputies, according to Nocco’s request.

Pasco County’s Property Appraiser Mike Wells estimated last month that there will be a 12.8% increase in property taxes. The final figure won’t be known until the beginning of July.  

Nocco says that even if the 9% increase is approved, staffing of the sheriff’s office won’t be keeping up with the county’s growth. If they are able to hire 40 new deputies, it’s anticipated that it would cost $8.93 million during the first year due to the cost of training and equipment, and other miscellaneous costs.

Also included in the budget request are salary increases for all employees of the PSO “to ensure our agency remains competitive with surrounding agencies,” Nocco said, adding, “It is crucial we continue to attract quality applicants and retain our valuable members to provide the highest level of service to our community, so we do not return to the previous situation, which we had to address with members leaving for surrounding agencies.” 

His request also included funds for capital expenditures, including armored vehicles, which currently are not budgeted by the sheriff’s office.

The FY 2024-2025 budgets won’t be determined for county departments until later this year.

In other business at the BOCC meeting:

  • Commissioners continued a request for a zoning amendment made by Cherry Hills West MPUD Master Planned Unit Development – Veterans of Foreign Wars of US Major Francis E. Dade Post 4283 et al. 

It had been requested that the zoning of a 34.07-acre parcel on the east side of VFW Post Road, approximately 275 feet south of State Road 52, be changed from an A-R Agricultural Residential District to an MPUD Master Planned Unit Development District. The applicant wanted to be allowed to develop a maximum of 160 single-family detached dwelling units on the site near the Pasco County Fairgrounds.

District 2 Commissioner Seth Weightman, and Chairman and District 1 Commissioner Ron Oakley both expressed concerns about the zoning change being approved without assurances that water and sewer services would be available for the development. 

The applicant is currently seeking an agreement with Dade City to provide water and sewer services for the proposed project. 

Weightman recommended the requested density of the proposed project be reduced by 50% so only 80 single-family homes could be built there.

Attorney Shelley May Johnson, representing the applicant, said she was confident Dade City would have water and sewer services available when the site plan for the proposed project is approved. That procedure normally takes several months after the approval of the request for a zoning amendment.

“We don’t know when the city’s gonna have sewer available for its customers. They’re all on hold. There’s no timeline for anything coming anytime soon,” Oakley said.

  • Commissioners also agreed to allow plats to be recorded for three subdivisions that Len-Angeline LLC plans to develop on property in District 4; for two subdivisions that Thornwood Associates LLC, plans to develop in District 1; and for a subdivision that Brookfield Holdings LLC and EPG-Two Rivers LLC plan to develop in District 1.

Commissioners allowed all of the plats to be recorded after the applicants either posted Surety Bonds or Letters of Credit to cover the estimated cost of infrastructure improvements that haven’t yet been installed at the proposed developments.

  • A comprehensive plan amendment was also approved to allow a maximum of 18 single-family homes to be built on approximately 92.6 acres of real property located at 17001 Bellamy Brothers Boulevard, Dade City. Sandarben LLC / Tarapani Planning Strategies were the applicants for the amendment. The property is located in east Pasco.

Published June 12, 2024

DeSantis asks residents to buy hurricane supplies during sales tax holiday

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(The Center Square) — Gov. Ron DeSantis urged Florida residents to take advantage of the state’s sales tax holiday for hurricane supplies.

DeSantis announced during a recent news conference in Fort Myers that many items will be sales tax-free to help residents prepare for potential disastrous weather events. Hurricane season started on June 1 and runs through Nov. 1.

“We are gonna be prepared,” DeSantis said. “We have put a lot of emphasis in this state on recovery and response. I know when Ian came, millions and millions of people were restored to power across the state within a matter of 48 hours.”

(Oxana Melis/Unsplash)

DeSantis said that this was the fastest restoration after a major hurricane in American history and added that local and state responders worked hard to get supplies and get major lifelines like bridges up and running again.

“There’s certain things that your local government will need to prepare for and execute and then, of course, the state, we have a role and we try to lead,” DeSantis said. “We don’t typically depend on the federal government for anything because we figure that’s not a place you wanna be.”

DeSantis said that individual Floridians have a role to play in ensuring they are prepared and emphasized the importance of having a sound preparedness plan. DeSantis added that they now recommend that households have at least seven days of food, water and fuel.

“We’re not just saying do this; we’re actually helping people make this happen,” DeSantis said. “We are now in the midst — and this goes till June 14 — of our disaster tax preparedness holiday for sales tax.”

Sales tax-free items include portable generators, power banks, batteries, flashlights, pet items, toys, tarps, water, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors and portable radios for less than $50.

DeSantis said that they have also added pet evacuation supplies to the disaster preparedness tax holiday. These include wet and dry cat and dog food, cat litter pans, water bowls, pet waste disposal bags, collars, muzzles, leashes and pet beds and carriers.

A second disaster preparedness sales tax holiday is slated to begin during the peak of hurricane season from Aug. 24 through Sept. 6 so residents can replenish supplies. DeSantis said it’s important for people to get what they need now.

Published June 12, 2024

Florida officials seeking public input on proposed energy rebate programs

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(The Center Square) — Florida officials are seeking feedback from the public about the Florida Energy Rebate programs currently under development.

The program still awaits approval from the U.S. Department of Energy. Florida has been allocated $346 million to assist residents in reducing energy costs by improving their home’s energy efficiency through qualified upgrades, retrofits and high-efficiency appliances.

Brooks Rumenik, the director of the Office of Energy at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said during last month’s meeting devoted to the implementation of Florida’s Energy Rebate Program that it is designed to help businesses and individuals cope with rising energy costs.

(Jon Moore/Unsplash)

“In today’s challenging economy, it’s important we provide opportunities for individuals and businesses to save on their energy costs,” Rumenik said. “Florida’s energy rebate programs will provide a unique opportunity to save money through increased energy efficiency.”

Rumenik added that the energy programs are designed to provide financial incentives that can lead to actual savings and the meeting’s objectives included engaging with stakeholders during the development of the programs, as well as the implementation process and aggregating and considering all feedback.

“The goal of Florida’s energy rebate program is to enhance energy savings for Floridians, while accelerating the transition to more affordable, efficient and resilient homes,” Rumenik said.

The programs will run until all the funds are exhausted or through Sept. 30, 2031, whichever comes first.

Deputy Director of the Office of Energy Tony Morgan said that they are still designing the specifics of the two programs and are waiting for guidance from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Morgan explained that the first of the two programs is the Whole Home Efficiency Rebate, which is a performance-based rebate opportunity for single-family or multi-family households that requires a minimum energy savings.

However, Morgan pointed out that the rebate amounts are low and might work better with other incentives. Eligible upgrades include heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, heat pump dryers and weatherization, and must increase efficiency by at least 20%.

The second program is Home Efficiency Appliances & Electrification. It is income-restricted, and only specific appliances, including insulation and air-sealing, electric load service, ventilation, and electric wiring qualify for the rebate.

The programs allow a maximum rebate of $14,000, including up to an $8,000 rebate for heat pumps.

For more information, visit fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Florida-Energy-Rebates.

Published June 12, 2024

Pony up

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He’s a one-trick pony
One trick is all that horse can do
He does, one trick only
It’s the principal source of his revenue.
-Paul Simon, “One-Trick Pony”

My parents moved out to Lutz from Tampa in the early 1950s and bought a little one-room “honeymoon cabin” on Lake Hobbs to start a family. They built onto the house as the family grew and they bought a few acres of grove across the road from the house and made it into a pasture and garden. 

Growing up in Lutz was a wonderful experience and I feel sorry for kids today who are being raised in a time when they are taught not to talk to any strangers and are not let out of their parents’ sight.  

Randall’s sister Melinda with Cleve in 1968. (Courtesy of Grantham Family Archives)

While growing up in Lutz was different than growing up in other areas, just growing up in that era was different from now but remarkably similar across the country.  

Going through some old pictures the other day, I came across a photo of me sitting in a little cowboy outfit on a pony. I have seen similar pictures on Facebook and other sharing sites of other people, from other areas, as children, sitting on what could have been the very same pony and it made me think — what was up with the kid on a pony gig? 

Turns out itinerant photographers would co-opt a pony and go from neighborhood to neighborhood and from house to house taking pictures of the local kids sitting on the pony and sell the photos to the parents. They usually even had a suitcase full of cowboy outfits to dress the kids up for their big moment. This was a nationwide occurrence. You can find these pictures going from Michigan to Texas to Florida and beyond, and dating back decades before my experience. 

They probably had better luck in the metropolitan areas than they did in rural farm country, as many countrified homes had pastures and animals, including sometimes horses and ponies of their own. 

We mainly had cows and chickens but we did have a pony for a while. His name was Cleve and he was one ornery animal. He would bite you if you got too close to the front and kick the slop out of you if you got too close to the rear. 

We would ride him, bareback sometimes, and I even rode him to “Downtown” Lutz a couple of times. On one such trip, as my next-door neighbor Cheryl and I cut through the groves where the Lutz ballfields stand now, Cleve decided he was going to take a dust bath. He plopped down to his knees and I realized what was about to happen. So, as I scrambled off of him and away, I grabbed Cheryl, pulling her with me, “saving her life,” as he began rolling around on his back in the sand. 

At least that’s what I felt I had done, but there was no parade or celebration for my brave deed. 

Another time, my entrepreneurial instincts got the better of me and I was charging kids at the little ball field that used to be behind Old Lutz Elementary to ride Cleve around the bases. He only threw off one kid and he didn’t really get hurt, but when my mom found out what I was up to, I couldn’t comfortably sit on that pony for a while. 

Turns out there was something called “liability” that could have cost my parents big money. 

I guess I could have taken Cleve from house to house and taken pictures of kids on his back with my little Instamatic camera, but after learning about that liability thing, I decided to become a lawyer instead. 

(Randall C. Grantham is a lifelong resident of Lutz who practices law from his offices on Dale Mabry Highway. . Copyright 2024 RCG)

Published June 12, 2024