The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Hillsborough seeks members for diversity council

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The Hillsborough County Commission is seeking applicants for its Diversity Advisory Council.

The board is seeking applicants from these categories: African American (1); Caribbean (1); Far East Asian (1); Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (2); Indian Asian (1); Middle Eastern (1); Native American (1); and Northern and Southern European (2).

All nominees must reside in and be registered voters in Hillsborough County.  This is a voluntary position, so does not include any compensation.

Those interested in applying must submit:

  • An essay of 200-500 words highlighting what your goals would be as a member of the Diversity Advisory Council and state why you are most suited to carry forth those goals.
  • A completed questionnaire for Diversity Advisory Council
  • A Standards of Conduct Form.  

The board meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

Forms are available on the County’s website, at HCFLGov.net. To download a form, click on the following tabs/links: “Government”, “Boards and Committees Forms”. The forms can be filled out and printed, then scanned and emailed, faxed, or mailed.

All forms must be signed and dated, and all questions must be answered in entirety to be eligible.

Applicants declining to submit an essay will be eliminated from further consideration for service on the Diversity Advisory Council of Hillsborough County.

Applications are due by the close of business on Aug. 17.

Appointments are scheduled at Hillsborough County board meeting in September or October.

Forms can be mailed to: P. O. Box 1110, Tampa, Florida, 33601; faxed to 813-239-3916; or emailed to

They also can be personally delivered to the second floor of 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., in downtown Tampa.

Published August 02, 2023

Art that speaks their language

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Kendry Abreu Valerio used to be embarrassed to speak his native language.

However, now three years later thanks to art projects through Pasco County Schools’ English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program, he is fluent in English — as well as a budding artist.

“I really learned English through this program and, at the same time, you learn a lot more about art and artists,” he said. “It feels a lot better now that I know I can speak English.”

Cox Elementary student Jazmyn Martinez Macayo, 8, smiles in front of her artwork poster board during the Dade City & Zephyrhills Young Artists Exhibit, at the Dade City Armory on July 18. About a dozen artists, all of whom were part of Pasco County Schools’ summer English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program, researched artists and created artworks — in a project aimed at helping them to hone their English language skills. (Mike Camunas)

His work was among about a dozen young artists on display at the first-ever Dade City & Zephyrhills Young Artists Exhibit, at the Dade City Armory on July 18.

He’s also one of many ESOL students who have learned English through hard work and creative, beyond-the-textbook art projects.

Students were told to research artists that inspired them, then create their own art. They had to present their art as if it was featured in an exhibit.

“It taps into the student’s creativity, for starters,” ESOL Curriculum Specialist Magda Mckenzie said. “It also makes kids feel comfortable, so they don’t feel embarrassed when speaking the English language. … So, we started working on developing oral English skills, and as we were focusing on specific artists, they read and studied a lot of biographies.

“Then they would have to tell us about their art.”

Pasco Middle student Mónica Hernández, 12, smiles as she shows off her artistic piece at the Dade City Armory on July 18 during the Dade City & Zephyrhills Young Artists Exhibit.

As a longtime Dade City resident, Mckenzie was inspired when she was driving downtown and saw that the Dade City Center for the Arts (DCCA) was hosting its Art Walk.

She thought: Why not have an exhibit for the students and their art?

Mckenzie approached DCCA with the idea, and the nonprofit’s vice president, Lucy Avila, and the center agreed to host the exhibit.

“A lot of times, when you’re trying to learn a second language, you’re doing two things at once: you’re learning content and, at the same time, they’re learning the language — that’s a tough thing to do, so I think this gives them an avenue to them be more successful,” Mckenzie said.

“Teachers love (the presentations), too, because the parents are involved, and when the parents see the progress, that definitely means a lot to the teachers.”

The student artworks represented nine different Latin American countries.

The exhibit was part of the ESOL summer session.

Dozens of people attended the Dade City & Zephyrhills Young Artists Exhibit, at the Dade City Armory on July 18.

For 3 ½ hour days, four days a week for five weeks, the students worked on their research, their artwork and their presentations.

“Every week they had to practice on how to talk to anyone, face-to-face, on their art, and what and who inspired them,” Mckenzie said. 

“And be able to do all of that in English.”

Students were from East Pasco elementary, middle and high schools, and were excited to show off their art and new communication skills at the exhibit.

Abreu Valerio, who said his artwork was inspired by Picasso, says he is now as confident as his fellow incoming Zephyrhills High freshmen — the ones whose first language is English.

“Having to present today really helped because you then hear English more and more and more,” he said. “It feels better because, sometimes, if you don’t know English, some people even make fun of you — so it feels really good that I know it so much better now.”

Isabella Lopez Flores, an 11-year-old Pinecrest Elementary student, said she was inspired by artists such as Frida Kahlo and Oscar Olivares, the latter being Venezuelan, such as herself.

She said the art project taught her English, and more.

About a dozen or so young English for Speakers of Other Languages students displayed their program artwork during an exhibit on July 18.

“It teaches you about a lot of places and things, but also a lot about art and artists,” she said. “I learned more about the countries and the world and more English. It wasn’t harder; it was more helpful — much more than reading a book, especially for me.

“When I didn’t know that much English, I would talk to my friends and they would help me learn more English, but would also help me through Spanish when I would need to talk to the teacher,” she said.

“It was all very helpful, but now I’m confident speaking to anyone in English.”

Dade City Center for the Arts
Details: The Dade City Center for the Arts brings the arts to the city and community by providing opportunities for artists to showcase their talents. The group uses community outreach and collaborates with Pasco-Hernando State College, Saint Leo University and area businesses. The organization is devoted to enhancing the Dade City environment through the arts and art events, including the Dade City Hale Bale Painting Project, the Kumquat Window Decorating Contest and the Dade City Art Walk.
Info: Visit DadeCityArts.com.

Published July 26, 2023

Pasco calls for limited new spending in its proposed 2024 budget

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As Pasco County began developing its budget for the 2024 fiscal year, it was mindful of two conditions that could increase its expenditures, according to Bob Goehig, the county’s budget director.

“The first one, of course, was the stubbornly high interest rate; right now it’s up to about 6%. The second one was the rapid growth in our population, which is increasing the demand for services throughout the county, throughout all of our departments,” Goehig said.

“We thought if we developed a conservative budget that that would serve our residents well.

(Courtesy of Pasco County)

“By conservative, we mean, we want to go into this budget with limiting the number of new spending … and, instead rely on spending for one-time, capital-type things, just in case things get worse, we can always pull back on those capital expenditures,” he said.

So, in planning the budget, county administration assumed there would be no changes in the operating millage rate of 7.6076 mills, the budget director said.

The county administration is, however, recommending an increase to the Fire Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU). The proposed increase is from the current rate of 1.8036 to a new rate of 2.3 mills.

That increase would pay for salary increases and for additional staff to work at new stations being added to reduce response times.

The additional boots on the ground are needed, county board members said during the July 11 board discussion of the proposed budget.

Goehig also went over other elements of the tax bill.

“There will be no change in the stormwater assessment; water and wastewater rates will be as they were represented in the four-year rate resolution; and, we are in year four of seven for the Seven-on-Seven solid waste plan,” he said.

He also broke down the revenues that the county expects.

The county’s final taxable values received on July 1 showed an increase of  16.5%, Goehig said.

That is expected to yield property tax revenues of nearly $49 million, he said.

“If we take 40% of that for the sheriff, that yields a $19.5 million increase for the sheriff’s budget,” he said.

The proposed budget also includes a 5% wage increase for county employees, increased wages for firefighters and increases to the county’s constitutional officers.

For instance, the budget includes a $1.5 million increase for the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office.

“That represents normal increases to the clerk’s budget, including things like software increases, retirement, wages, health care. It also includes the increase for Year 3 of the CJIS — Criminal Justice Information System, Goehig said.

“It does not include the $7 million that the clerk has asked for, for the operation of the courthouse annex,” he added.

The funding for the courthouse annex is the subject of a lawsuit between the clerk’s office and the county. The clerk believes it’s the county’s responsibility to provide that funding; the county disagrees.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Jack Mariano noted that an initial court ruling in the county’s favor has been appealed.

“If we happen to lose that appeal, we would have to restructure this whole budget to make that money up,” Mariano said.

He asked what the financial impact would be if that happens.

Goehig said it would have a $7.4 million impact.

County Administrator Mike Carballa told Mariano: “We would have to find a way to make a recurring expense, yes, sir.”

Mariano responded: “So, just keep that in mind.”

Goehig also mentioned that the Supervisor of Elections’ budget will increase by about $1.5 million.

“You’ll notice the Supervisor of Elections’ budget increases in those years when we have elections and decreases in the following years, when there are no elections,” the budget director said.

“There is a Presidential Preference Primary next year, so most of this goes to funding the salaries for those who staff the poll stations,” Goehig added.

The Property Appraiser’s budget calls for an increase of nearly 12%, which will be used to pay for some new software and increases to salary, retirement and health care costs, Goehig said.

The first public hearing on the budget is set for Sept. 5 at 5:15 p.m., at Historic Pasco County Courthouse, 37918 Meridian Ave., in Dade City.

Published July 26, 2023

Capturing ‘A Sense of Place’

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We’ve all seen images that help tell the story of the place we live.

It might be a glorious sunrise on the horizon, or moonlight glowing on a lake.

Perhaps it’s a picturesque country road or a mist rising over a field.

Beauty can take on many forms, including that of a rusted-out tow truck like this one, spotted along U.S. 41 in the northern part of Land O’ Lakes. (Mike Camunas)

It could be a piece of farm equipment at rest behind freshly plowed ground, or a colorful display of fruits and veggies at a roadside stand.

If you’re a reader of The Laker/Lutz News, you’re likely familiar with our popular local wildlife feature.

Our new photography feature, “A Sense of Place,” is launching now.

It is intended to give photographers an opportunity to show off their skills in a broader context, while our readers benefit from the quality of images they capture.

The photos shown here were shot by Mike Camunas to provide an idea of the kind of photos we’re seeking. Mike’s photography graces the pages of our newspaper each week, providing a visual element to our storytelling.

The quality of his work has been recognized by the Florida Press Association.

He will be overseeing our “A Sense of Place” feature, which we plan to publish each week, based on the number and quality of submissions we receive.

Thanks, in advance, to anyone who chooses to share their passion for photography with our readers.

To submit your photo for consideration, send it to .

Please tell us when and where it was taken and any special circumstances or other details you’d like to share. Also, please provide a photo credit and contact information, in case we need to reach back.

Published July 26, 2023

Some years ago, we launched a photo feature called Local Wildlife.

The dock, near Lake Padgett, offers a picture of tranquility, at sunset in Land O’ Lakes.

The idea was to attempt to capture images of birds, raccoons, alligators and other wild creatures that make their home in the region covered by The Laker/Lutz News. We thought it would be a great way to engage our readers – in two ways. One, it provided a vehicle for our readers to share images they captured in our communities. Two, it gave our readers something to look forward to seeing each week.

Today, we are announcing the launch of another series, which we hope will be equally popular — both with photographers who want to share their images and with readers who enjoy viewing them.

This photo feature is called “A Sense of Place.” The idea is to capture photos within our coverage area that help convey the sense of our communities.

We are not looking for images of people, but are rather looking for photographs of scenes or objects that help tell the story of our locale.

This new venture will be under the direction of Mike Camunas, an award-winning staff writer and photographer. His images that appear in our newspaper each week have enhanced the visual presentation of our newspaper.

Please turn to page 1B to see examples of the types of images that we’re seeking for this feature.

The goal is to add it to our weekly lineup, but that will depend upon the number of submissions we receive. If you’d like an image to be considered for publication, please email it to . Please add a sentence or two, describing when and where you took the photo and what the image means to you. Be sure to include who took the photo and contact information, in case we need to reach back.

Thanks, in advance, for helping us to present a newspaper you look forward to receiving each week.

— B.C. Manion, editor of The Laker/Lutz News

Published July 26, 2023

There are some areas where citrus still grows in Central Pasco, such as this unripe orange on a tree in a grove along U.S. Highway 41 in Land O’ Lakes.
This weathered road leads to the hilly backwoods of Dade City, an area characterized by its green pastures.
An artistic interpretation of a cluster of pine trees in Pasco County. The county still offers plenty of ways to get out to enjoy nature’s bounty.

 

New coffee shop, daycare may be coming soon to Land O’ Lakes

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a rezoning to allow commercial development on 4.99 acres at the northwest corner of State Road 54 and Livingston Road, in Land O’ Lakes.

The application for the rezoning indicates that the site will be used for a coffee shop with a drive-thru, an eight-bay tire store, and a 10,000-square-foot day care.

Access to the site will be from State Road 54, Livingston Road and 20 Mile Level Road, according to the county board’s July 11 agenda item. The board approved the item as part of its consent agenda. Items on that agenda are approved in a single vote without discussion, unless someone asks for an item to be pulled.

The Pasco County Commission has approved a rezoning to allow commercial development on 4.99 acres at the northwest corner of State Road 54 and Livingston Road, in Land O’ Lakes.
(Mike Camunas)

In other action, the county board:

  • Confirmed the appointment of Pasco Sheriff’s Office Capt. Eric Seltzer to serve as director of the department of emergency services. Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco selected Seltzer for the position.
  • Approved a rezoning on 2.11 acres at the northeast corner of Jerry Road and Paul S. Buchman Highway to allow general commercial uses. The applicant indicated the site would be used for a Dollar General Store.
  • Approved the purchase of a Gradall Hydraulic Excavator for $493,426. The purchase is being made by using a Florida Sheriffs Association’s contract, and the unit will replace one that has reached the end of its life cycle. 
  • Approved an agreement between the Florida Department of Transportation and Pasco County for the design of the School Road multi-use path, from Community Center Road to U.S. 41, also known as Land O’ Lakes Boulevard. The project will add an 8-foot concrete multi-use path along the east side of School Road, for a distance of slightly under two-tenths of a mile. The estimated design cost is $99,000; FDOT has agreed to pay up to $99,000 for the design project.
  • Approved the purchase of two Skeeter wildland fire apparatuses from Ten-8 Fire & Safety LLC, for a cost not-to-exceed $642,960. The brush trucks are used for Pasco Fire Rescue wildland firefighting needs. The new units will replace two existing units.
  • Provided a letter of support and agreed to provide $25,000 in funding for an effort by the University of South Florida to be selected as a Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program. The U.S. Economic Development Administration is seeking applicants for the program. Pasco’s portion of the matching funding will come from Penny for Pasco proceeds intended to promote the county’s economic development.

Published July 26, 2023

Pasco County is ramping up code enforcement

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The Pasco County Commission has authorized hiring five full-time code compliance positions in a quest to address code violations and to create a better curb appeal for the county.

The county board unanimously approved an allocation of $306,821 this year for startup costs and $409,097, in fiscal year 2024. Budgeting for the positions will continue to be needed in subsequent years, as well.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, who frequently brings photographs to board meetings to call attention to violations, is excited about the additional staff.

Commissioner Gary Bradford, who has urged county administration to find a way to provide additional help for the code compliance team to handle mounting workloads, said he’s glad to see county administration taking this step.

Both commissioners said the need is great.

Besides obvious violations, the county also has a problem with businesses that do not comply with county regulations, Starkey said.

“I am finding many places that never came in for a site plan. They may have got their zoning, but then they just went off and opened their business with no site plan review, no site plan approval,” she said.

Some businesses fail to meet the county’s regulations, or, if they do initially, they fail to maintain their properties, Starkey said.

“If we’re trying to attract quality business here and help our residents with taxes, we have to have curb appeal. I think this is really critical. I don’t want to keep sliding backwards.

“I can tell you, if we don’t stay on top of these things, we are sliding back,” Starkey said.

Commission Chairman Jack Mariano said he’d like to see a greater focus on dealing with homeless camps.

Patrick Arotin, director of code compliance, explained how the five additional personnel will be deployed.

“We are going to be looking at businesses and commercial properties a little harder. We’re going to review business tax receipts; research site development plans; and that coincides with that landscaping issue,” he said.

Staff will be asking: “Who has kind of violated that original site plan?” he said.

Additional attention also will be focused on right of way violations, including trash, illegal signs, fence violations and zoning compliance, he said.

Arotin said he also hopes to have staffing on at least one weekend a month, on varying weekends to avoid tipping off potential violators.

Published July 26, 2023

Public comment sought on proposed Suncoast Parkway expansion

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The Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization is seeking public comment on a proposal to amend the county’s 2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan to include the widening of the Suncoast Parkway, from the Hillsborough County line to State Road 52.

The amendment calls for widening the Suncoast Parkway in Pasco County from four lanes to eight lanes from the Hillsborough County line to State Road 54; and, from four lanes to six lanes, from State Road 54 to State Road 52.

The public has been invited to weigh in on a proposed widening of the Suncoast Parkway. The widening would be between the Hillsborough County line and State Road 52, in Pasco County. The expressway would be widened from four lanes to eight lanes from the Hillsborough County line to State Road 54, in Pasco; and from four lanes to six lanes, from State Road 54 to State Road 52, also in Pasco. (Mike Camunas)

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) are seeking the change to the long-range transportation plan (LRTP).

The Mobility 2045 LRTP includes recommended highway, public transportation, bicycle, pedestrian and freight facility improvements that are planned over a 25-year time horizon, according to a posting on the Pasco MPO’s web page, on the Pasco County website.

The plan identifies strategies and improvements aimed at alleviating congestion, improving safety, and promoting increased system efficiency, the posting says.

In addition to physical improvements, strategies include systems management techniques and coordination with land use planning and development activity.

In drafting the adopted Mobility 2045 LRTP, considerations included different modes of transportation to accommodate the movement of people and goods throughout Pasco County and the region, the posting adds.

The notice, posted by the Pasco MPO, alerts the public of an opportunity to provide input on the proposed amendment to plans for the Suncoast Parkway.

The public is entitled to a reasonable opportunity to comment, in accordance with the MPO’s Public Participation Plan and in compliance with federal law and Florida statutes, the posting adds.

The comment period began on July 17 and continues through Aug. 16.

Comments received during the comment period will be recorded by MPO staff and provided to the appropriate parties for review. 

The Pasco County MPO is responsible for countywide transportation planning. Its board members are made up of elected leaders from Pasco County, Dade City, Zephyrhills, New Port Richey and Port Richey.

The Pasco MPO board will consider the requested amendment to the Mobility 2045 LRTP at their regularly scheduled meeting on Aug. 17 at 10 a.m., in the Pasco County Commission’s boardroom, on the first floor of the West Pasco Government Center, 8731 Citizens Drive, in New Port Richey.

The proposed amendment to the Mobility 2045 LRTP is available for public review and comment in the Metropolitan Planning Organization section of the Pasco County Public Notices web page and at the MPO Office at the West Pasco Government Center in New Port Richey. Persons wishing to obtain additional information, or a copy of the proposed Mobility 2045 LRTP amendment, may call the MPO at 727-847-8140, ext. 8804.

Published July 26, 2023

Pasco school board approves Pepin’s charter school application

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The Pasco County School Board has approved the charter school application for Pepin Academies Wesley Chapel, to be located at the campus of Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation.

The charter school, which will serve third- through 12th-graders, is scheduled to open in the 2024-2025 school year.

The application clearly states that the school will enroll students with learning or learning-related disabilities and a current Individual Education Plan. The school is focusing on students with learning disabilities in Wesley Chapel, St. Leo, San Antonio, Dade City and Zephyrhills.

The application for the school was submitted by Jeffrey Skowronek on March 10, 2023. The school board approved the application at its July 18 meeting.

The campus will be on land that was acquired for the school through a partnership and memorandum of understanding between Pepin and Pasco County Schools, according to materials in the school board’s agenda packet.

The school will be opened in phases, with maximum enrollments increasing over a period of five years, as follows:

  • Year 1 (2024-2025): 85 students in grades three through six
  • Year 2 (2025-2026): 155 students in grades three through eight
  • Year 3 (2026-2027): 225 students in grades three through 10
  • Year 4 (2027-2028): 255 students in grades three through 11
  • Year 5 (2028-2029): 285 students in grades three through 12

The mission of Pepin Academies Wesley Chapel at Kirkland Ranch is to “empower students with learning disabilities to maximize their potential in a positive therapeutic educational  environment,” the board’s agenda packet said.

In Pepin’s charter application, an evaluation determined that 16 of 22 sections of the application “meet the standard,” and six of the sections “partially meet the standard.” None of the sections were rated as “did not meet the standard,” the budget materials reported.

The application review noted, in part, that Pepin “clearly explains a therapeutic model and classroom environments that cater to the specific needs of their unique student population.”

Also, the “applicant has a clear understanding of the value of making data-driven decisions when setting educational goals,” the evaluation said.

Although a contingent of Pepin representatives attended the board meeting, none of them spoke.

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools, remarked that the partnership is a unique arrangement among public schools in Florida.

Published July 26, 2023

Talks continue over taking regional approach to transportation planning

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Opinions continue to shift regarding the wisdom of creating a regional board to tackle transportation issues in Tampa Bay.

When the issue came up at the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization’s meeting in June, officials resisted the idea when they found out that Pasco would have far fewer seats on the board than Hillsborough or Pinellas counties.

At the time, Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley said he’d resist a regional approach — without assurances that Pasco’s voice would be heard.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey is a staunch advocate for a regional approach to tackling transportation issues. She says that failure to do so is a disservice. (File)

But the county board member told his board colleagues that he came away with a different opinion, after attending the June 23 meeting of the Tampa Bay Area Transportation Leadership Group and Suncoast Transportation Planning Alliance Board.

At that meeting, Oakley said David Gwynn, the secretary for the District Seven office of the Florida Department of Transportation, explained the advantage of joining the region’s forces together on transportation issues.

“I was looking at a small picture of supporting Pasco County. I wasn’t looking at the big picture, which supports the region,” said Oakley, whose comments came during the Pasco County Commission’s July 11 meeting.

If the individual counties in Tampa Bay joined together, they’d stand a much greater chance to attract a greater share of federal funds, the Pasco board member said.

Because of the population it would represent, the Tampa Bay regional board would rank No. 17 in the nation, Oakley said.

“It’s a lot bigger picture than what I was thinking at first. It’s very important for us to be a part of that group, so we can get some of those monies in our area,” Oakley said.

His board colleague Kathryn Starkey, a staunch advocate for regional  transportation planning, agreed.

She told Oakley: “I am really grateful that you came. We had some new people there.”

She said the mayor of Temple Terrace was there and she believes he initially felt the same way that Oakley had felt, regarding representation, prior to that meeting.

“But afterwards, he told me, he really had his eyes opened,” she said.

Starkey said FDOT Secretary Gwynn was eloquent in explaining the disadvantage that results from a lack of a regional transportation approach in Tampa Bay.

She added: “This is not about our local votes and our local issues. We get that money, and that money will still come to us in the same formula. This is about working together on big projects, for West Central Florida. And, we’re not doing it and it’s such a disservice.

“I was very happy with some of the comments I heard around that room.”

“Some people in Hillsborough had been hearing a story from a few commissioners that don’t really reflect what the importance of this regional MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) means to the community, and they had their eyes opened at that meeting. I was grateful for that,” said Starkey, who has been elected chairwoman of the Tampa Bay Area Transportation Leadership Group.

“There’s still discussion of how our representation falls out,” she said, adding that there are also federal rules that must be followed.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Jack Mariano agreed that the county must pursue potential opportunities.

“I think it’s important that we make the right step forward to get that money. If it allocates a whole ‘nother pot of money that we weren’t getting, it’s definitely something to pursue.”

Starkey is confident that a regional approach to transportation can occur in Tampa Bay.

“We’re going to get this done. We’re going to get our regional MPO in place,” she said.

Published July 26, 2023

Global data breach could affect thousands in Hillsborough County

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Hillsborough County has notified more than 70,000 people whose information may have been compromised by a global data breach that has affected the county, according to a news release.

“It is unknown how many people might have had their health or identification information compromised, but in an abundance of caution, Hillsborough County has mailed notification letters to clients of Healthcare Services and known affected vendors of Aging Services – a total of 70,636 people – of the data breach,” the county’s news release said.

The county also is notifying the credit monitoring bureaus of all those potentially impacted by the data breaches, as well as the Florida Department of Legal Affairs/Office of Attorney General and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights.

The county also is advising those who were notified of the potential breach to consider taking these steps to protect themselves from potential fraud: 

  • Call the toll-free numbers of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit report. This can help prevent thieves from opening additional accounts in your name. (As soon as one credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus automatically will be notified to place alerts on your credit report as well.)

Here are the credit bureau numbers:

When you establish a fraud alert, you will receive a follow-up letter that explains how to receive a free credit report, according to the county’s news release.

When you receive your credit report, the county advises you to be sure to examine it closely for signs of fraud, such as credit accounts that are not yours. Continue to monitor your credit reports.

Even if a fraud alert has been placed on your account, you should continue to monitor your credit reports to ensure that an imposter has not opened an account with your personal information, the news release added.

The county was notified on June 1 about the global data breach, involving the MOVEit file transfer tool, according to the release.

When the county was notified, its cyber security staff immediately contacted the company for additional details and instructions and installed all updated security patches as provided by the vendor, the release added.

During the next two weeks, county staff continued to work with the vendor on additional security patches and received more information.  

The cyber security staff learned on June 18 that Hillsborough County files could have potentially been impacted by the breach and in coordination with the County’s HIPAA Officer reviewed the affected files.

A determination was made that the files belonged to the Healthcare Services and Aging Services departments and potentially contained protected health information and personal information, the news release added.

Protected health and personal information could include first and last names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, home addresses, medical conditions and diagnoses, and disability codes, according to the release.

Hillsborough County files were not specifically targeted in the cyberattack, but as a customer of MOVEit, the county potentially was affected.

Individuals with questions may reach out for more information. For additional details, call the county’s dedicated toll-free number 1-833-963-4357 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., on Mondays through Fridays.

Published July 26, 2023