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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Pasco County clerk continues her push for a bigger budget

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Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles is seeking a budget increase of 6.1% over her budget request of last year.

But that percentage increase relates to her re- quest from last year, not the actual amount she received.

Her request in this year’s budget is about $14 million. That’s roughly double of her current budget.

While the new request is being reviewed, the clerk and county remain locked in a legal dispute over how much funding the county is required to provide for the clerk’s operations.

Alvarez-Sowles outlined her current request during a recent budget workshop with the Pasco County Commission and county administration.

She said her request is essentially made up of three parts: the continuation of her current services; the balance of funding she did not receive last year for the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) funding; and funding for court-related local requirement — which refers to the Annex Courthouse in New Port Richey.

The clerk said the continuation of services requested in the budget refers to the services provided, along with increases for employee compensation, increased for the Florida Retirement System costs and increases in health insurance costs.

She said her budget includes a 5.3% average pay increase for employee compensation, but she told the board if the county’s average increase exceeds that, she would expect that her budget would be increased to reflect that. She said that County Administrator Dan Biles has agreed to that request.

The second part of her budget request refers to expenses related to the CJIS, which the clerk contends the county is required to pay, under state law.

Last year, the county agreed to pay $117,000 of those costs — far short of the costs for administering CJIS.

“My office has been paying the county’s responsibility since January of 2017.The county agrees that it is responsible for the IT (information technology) expenses and has agreed to fund this expense in the next fiscal year. My office can no longer fund the county’s responsibility.”

Her $14 million request also includes approximately $7.3 million for the operation of the annex courthouse in New Port Richey.

The clerk contends the cost for the annex courthouse also is the county’s responsibility, under state law.

But County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder the court case involves both the courthouse annex and the CJIS costs.

Steinsnyder said that before last year, the courthouse annex had never been classified as a local requirement.

“The big scary number is the $7 million number,” Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano said. “How can that be justified to go from $6 million, you go to $14 million?”

Steinsnyder said he doesn’t believe the court- house expense is a local requirement.

“The clerk disagrees with me.And that’s going to be the big ticket in the declaratory judgment action, between the county commission and the clerk,” he said.

The court also will decide whether the clerk is entitled the CJIS expenses, Steinsnyder said.

“We are litigating both of those items and it may be that the clerk isn’t entitled to the CJIS funding, either,” Steinsnyder said.

Alvarez-Sowles responded: “I doubt that.”

Alvarez-Sowles told the board: “I don’t have revenues to cover the expenses.”

Because she doesn’t have sufficient revenue, she said her office’s expenses are supported through a trust fund.

“Other clerks’ offices are funding the deficits in my office for court-related operations. I don’t put money into that trust fund. I receive money from that trust fund and it is only the clerk’s money that goes into that trust fund,” she said.

Beyond what she has requested in the $14 million budget, Alvarez-Sowles reiterated her request the county provide for her employees whatever the average increase it gives to county employees.

Plus, the clerk said, her current budget doesn’t include the impact her office will experience as a result of the county’s decision to shift jail operations from the sheriff’s office to the county’s control.

A specific request regarding those impacts needs to be delayed until more information is available, she said.

She also mentioned the current request does not include back pay for the CJIS component or the courthouse annex — from last year’s request.

County Administrator Dan Biles said he will not be making recommendations on this year’s budget requests until he has more information from the property appraiser’s office.

Published on June 8, 2022.

Pasco School Board identifies how it would spend ‘Penny’ proceeds

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Woodland Elementary School’s cafeteria is now more spacious, allow- ing more children to eat at the same time. It also has a new stage, enabling the school to hold larger events. Those improvements were done using proceeds from the Penny for Pasco surtax. (FILE)

The Pasco County School Board has identified how it would spend its share of proceeds from a proposed extension of the Penny for Pasco surtax.

Voters will decide in November if they favor extending the tax. The special 1-cent sales tax initially was adopted in March 2004, and was in effect from Jan. 1, 2005 through Dec. 31, 2014. Voters extended it for 10 years, with that renewal going from Jan. 1, 2015 through Dec. 31, 2024.

Now, voters are being asked for another renewal — this time for 15 years, from Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2039.

The school district, Pasco County and the county’s municipalities share the proceeds, with the school district and county each receiving 45% and the municipalities splitting 10%.

The school board adopted a resolution listing specific projects, as well as spending categories, for the estimated $1 billion that it would receive in additional revenues.

The proposed list includes numerous new schools.

Those new schools on the list include a new elementary in the Bexley development and a K-8 in the Ballantrae area. Both of those developments are off State Road 54, in Central Pasco.

The district is proposing a K-8 in the emerging Central Pasco Employment Village, off State Road 52, west of Interstate 75. Another K-8 is expected in the Village of Pasadena Hills, which is between Wesley Chapel and Dade City.

The district also would use Penny for Pasco funds to add computers in schools, upgrade the district’s computer network, fortify the safety on its campuses, upgrade athletic facilities and improve safety at driver pickup locations at schools, among other things.

The county proposes to spend its portion of the tax revenues this way: 40% for transportation, 20% for economic development, 20% for public safety; and, 20% for environmental lands, as well as park infrastructure.

The chart below is a look at the Pasco School Board’s proposed list of projects, based on a resolution the board approved on May 17.

Proposed Penny for Pasco projects*

SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION

  • Gulf Middle School new construction: $67.3 million
  • New Elementary School, Bexley area: $43.1 million
  • New K-8 School, Central Pasco Employment Village: $97.3 million
  • New K-8 School, southwest Land O’ Lakes: $71 million
  • West Zephyrhills Elementary new school: $38.4 million

School Complex,Villages of Pasadena Hills: $97.3 million

SCHOOL RENOVATIONS

Calusa Elementary: $8.6 million
Chester W. Taylor Elementary: $20.8 million
Cypress Elementary: $25.3 million
Dr. Mary Giella Elementary School: $20.4 million

Fox Hollow Elementary School: $26 million

J.W. Mitchell High: $35.8 million
Pasco High: $28.6 million
San Antonio Elementary: $33.1 million
Wesley Chapel High School: $35.8 million
River Ridge High: $40.5 million
River Ridge Middle: $43.3 million
Pine View Middle: $38.2 million

ATHLETIC FACILITY RENOVATIONS

• Hudson High: $4.8 million

• J.W. Mitchell High: $1.8 million
• Land O’ Lakes High: $9.4 million
• Pasco High: $10.5 million
• River Ridge High: $9.2 million
• Wesley Chapel High: $1.7 million • Wiregrass Ranch High: $1.8 million • Zephyrhills High: $5.2 million

CAFETERIA RENOVATIONS

• River Ridge High: $5.3 million
• Wesley Chapel High: $2.7 million

DISTRICT-WIDE PROJECTS

• Furniture replacement: $40.2 million
• Replacement of physical education equipment: $4.4 million
• Early Childhood Literacy Center: $2 million
• Energy Marine Center: $17.8 million
• Increase in student computers/devices: $45 million • Network infrastructure: $29 million
• School Safety & Security Equipment: $33 million
• School Safety & Security Hardening: $16.5 million • School Traffic Improvements: $11 million
• Transportation Depot – Alternative Energy: $14 million

* Figures are rounded
Source: Pasco County Schools

Published on June 8, 2022.

Planning board delays request, so neighbors can iron out issues

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has delayed a request in the Central Pasco Employment Village, to give neighbors a chance to discuss proposed conditions of approval.

The main sticking points involve the alignment of a proposed road and entitlements regarding commercial uses.

The requested zoning would allow development up to 2 million square feet of corporate business park and light industrial uses, as well as 300,000 square feet of support commercial/office on 321.13 acres.The site is on the south side of State Road 52, about a half mile west of Bellamy Brothers Boulevard.

The application, known as Eagle II, was filed by 3KS Family LLLP.

George Southworth, of 3KS Family LLLP, and Cynthia Spidell, a professional land planner, spoke on behalf of the application during the planning board’s May 19 meeting.

“We have a light industrial project. It’s an employment center. We have people that are looking for large, light industrial tracts, and we want to help the county fulfill that vision and bring some jobs to Pasco County,” said Spidell, who works for Stearns Weaver Miller, a law firm in Tampa.

She said her client is willing to reduce the commercial entitlement by 200,000 square feet, if the county is willing to exchange that for additional industrial development.

Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein said the county board has made it clear that it wants to lift restrictions on industrial development in the Central Pasco Employment Village (CPEV).

The CPEV is an area designated by the Pasco County Commission years ago to create a coordinated vision among a group of landowners.

As adopted, the plan envisions a mixed-use employment village on more than 2,400 acres, located along the south side of State Road 52, roughly between the Collier Parkway Extension and Bellamy Brothers Boulevard.The employment village is expected to contain commercial, residential and industrial uses.

A system had been developed to allow landowners to swap entitlements among them- selves, under the county’s supervision. But during the Pasco County Commission’s May 2 meeting, it became clear that at least some board members don’t think that landowners within the CPEV should have to jump through hoops, if they want their sites to be used for industrial development.

Disagreements already have arisen between CPEV landowners over entitlements, and a dispute of a similar nature arose at the May 19 planning board meeting.

Daniel Bergin, representing D&D Ranch of Pasco LLC, an adjacent landowner, asked the planning board to delay the request.

“Eagle II is seeking 300,000 square feet of commercial space,” Bergin said, which he said is inequitable, based on the overall total of commercial allotted within the CPEV.

Bergin asked Andy Joe Scaglione, the adjacent landowner, if he wanted to make some remarks.

“Most of this information was not submitted with the application. That’s why it’s such a mess,” Scaglione said. “I’d like to ask for a continuance because all of this information was not in the application.”

One issue in dispute involves the alignment of a proposed road that would be built on the Eagle II property.

Scaglione and Bergin said they were not aware of the proposed shift.

Goldstein, representing the county’s legal staff, told Scaglione it appears the new alignment would actually benefit Scaglione.

“The eastern side of your property seems somewhat landlocked,” Goldstein said. “What the applicant is saying, is by that moving it, they’re going to build you a road going out to the east.”

If the proposed road is left where it currently is, on the southern boundary, there’s a good chance it would never get built, Goldstein said.

That’s because the county typically doesn’t require landowners to build roads that aren’t needed by their developments, and in this case, the property already has access to State Road 52, Goldstein said.

Still, Scaglione asked for a continuance, say- ing the information came in at the last minute.

Spidell disputed that claim, pointing to a summary of a Nov.8 landowner meeting.

She presented a map to the planning board from that meeting, noting: “This is the map we showed.”

Goldstein asked the applicant if there’s a way to change the alignment of the road on its property, to avoid making a portion of Scaglione’s property unusable.

Southworth said they can provide connectivity, and “they can swing the road and hug their line.”

Goldstein observed: “I think there’s a way that you two could work out a connection point.”

But Southworth wasn’t so sure: “We aren’t going to work out a connection point with Andy Scaglione. It won’t ever happen.”

Planning board Chairman Charles Grey responded:“I don’t think that’s necessary.”

Ultimately, planning board members voted 3- 2 to delay the request until their June 16 meeting. Planning board members Jaime Girardi and Roberto Saez dissented.

That allows the parties time to have a meeting, to see if they can resolve their issues.

After the planning board makes its recommendation, the request moves on to the Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction on zoning and land use issues.

Letting the party out, at the KRATE

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Get ready to do some shopping, eating and drinking — at a unique collection of shops and restaurants at the Grove at Wesley Chapel.

As part of a rejuvenation, under the direction of owner Mark Gold, the KRATE at the Grove is throwing a grand opening party.

The open-air entertainment, shopping and restaurant complex has scheduled the daylong festivities for June 4 starting at 10 a.m., and will include live music, family-fun, food, beverages and entertainment, all within the area where mini-shops and restaurants operate out of converted shipping containers.

KRATE at the Grove, at 5817 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, will feature up to 54 mini-shops made up of restaurants and retail store fronts, all operating out of converted shipping containers. (Mike Camunas)

When KRATE is complete, 94 shipping containers will be turned into 54 individual business units, with a mix of about 70% restaurants and 30% retail.

KRATE at the Grove features a large open area stage, and seating and dining area for shoppers and patrons to enjoy live entertainment, including concerts, shows and other attractions.

Situated at the “top” of the KRATE area is a large entertainment venue featuring a stage, and plenty of Adirondack chairs and picnic tables set up for entertainment, and live concerts and music.

Dozens of the shops and restaurants already are open and have been progressively rolling out, since March.

Mishorim Gold Properties purchased the Grove for around $64 million in September 2019 and then invested more than $110 million into the renovation of the property, including setting aside nearly $20 million for KRATE.

Leases start at $1,500 per month, aimed at luring in new entrepreneurs or local businesses to add a storefront. Mishorim Gold Properties likens the KRATE to Sparkman Wharf, located in downtown Tampa, but bigger, and quite possibly the largest container park in the world.

Shops and restaurants already open at KRATE are The Fryroom, Budget Blinds, Brew Bar, Tasty Ramen, MaeBerry Co., Mojo Grill Latin Fusion, The Bacon Boss, TJ’s Hot Dogs, Katie Beth’s Boutique, Shake-A-Salad, Provisions Coffee and Kitchen, The Rebellious Hippie and more.

To find out the latest, check Facebook.com/GroveAtWesleyChapel and Instagram: @groveatwesleychapel.

KRATE at the Grove Grand Opening
Where: 5817 Wesley Grove Blvd., Wesley Chapel
When: June 4, starting at 10 a.m.
Details: An all-day grand opening event for the container shopping area at the Grove at Wesley Chapel, featuring live music, family friendly fun, food, beverages, art walls, unique programming and entertainment.
Info: To RSVP (not required), visit KrateAtGrove.com/grand-opening-rsvp. For more information, visit KrateAtGrove.com.

Published June 01, 2022

Updated June 03, 2022.

Pasco Schools’ employees to receive a 4% supplement

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Pasco County Schools’ teachers and non-instructional staff have ratified a contract resulting in one-time supplements.

Under the agreement, teachers will receive a one-time lump sum supplement equal to 4% of their salary, and the base teacher salary will be raised to $45,200 in accordance with state statute, according to information posted on the union’s website.

The non-instructional personnel also will receive a 4% lump sum payment. But the agreement also sets minimum amounts of the supplements for non-instructional staff. For those working six hours or more per day, the minimum supplement would be $700; for those working fewer than six hours per day, the minimum would be $350.

Additionally, the agreements include increases to the district’s contributions toward employee health insurance and Florida Retirement System benefits for the 2021-2022 school year, and nominal salary adjustments to teacher salaries based on a small increase to the state’s Teacher Salary Increase Allocation (TSIA) categorical, according to the district’s news release.

The United School Employees of Pasco (USEP) and the school district also have agreed to return to the bargaining table immediately, to begin negotiating additional salary improvements for 2022-2023.

On the Instructional contract, out of the 2,686 votes cast, 92% favored the contract. On the non-instructional side, 91% of the 1,998 votes cast favored the contract, according to the USEP website.

Pasco County School Board members approved the agreement in their May 17 meeting, taking action then to avoid a delay in issuing the supplements to employees.

Employees are expected to receive the supplements on June 17, according to a school district news release.

“This is very good news for thousands of employees who have been waiting to receive these supplements,” Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning, said in the release. “This is extremely well-deserved.”

In addition to the supplements that were approved this year, the Pasco County School Board is pursuing a ballot initiative asking voters to improve a property tax increase to support pay raises.

The school board voted on May 3 to place the initiative on the Aug. 23 primary ballot.

The referendum question asks voters to approve up to a maximum of 1 mil in funding to be designated for improving pay for teachers, bus drivers and other district personnel, except for administrators.

At an April 5 school board workshop on the topic, it was estimated that a 1 mil increase would yield an average instructional boost of $4,000; for non-instructional, $1,700.

District calculations show that Pasco’s median home cost of $325,000, and assuming a $25,000 homestead exemption, a property owner would pay $300 more per year, if the increase is 1 mil.

Specifically, the ballot question asks for a yes or no vote on whether to levy an additional tax, not to exceed 1 mil, beginning July 1, 2023 and ending no later than June 30, 2027.

The proceeds, according to the ballot question, will be used “for essential operating expenses to maintain salaries competitive with the market, attract and retain high-quality teachers, bus drivers and other non-administrative school support employees.”

There also is a requirement for “annual reporting to Pasco County taxpayers for transparency of the use of these funds.”

The board’s vote to pursue up to a full mil, followed persistent requests by Don Peace, president of USEP. The union leader has repeatedly cited the loss of personnel to other districts that pay better.

Peace said the district also needs another source of money to fill vacancies, to reduce the burden on existing staff, and to attract quality personnel to the district.

The union leader also has pledged USEP’s full support in efforts to secure passage of the referendum and, during a recent school board meeting, assured taxpayers that if the referendum is successful, the union will be paying close attention to how the proceeds are spent.

Published June 01, 2022

In a class of his own

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His grade point average is anything but average.

Then again, there’s nothing average about Gaither High valediction Dylan Mazard and his off-the-charts intelligence.

“When he was just 2 years old, I would come home from work, exhausted. He would read to me — just climb into bed and read to me before bedtime, said his father, Thomas Mazard, who has been a guidance counselor at Gaither High School for 13 years.

He’s amazed at his son’s accomplishments.

Gaither High valedictorian Dylan Mazard set a county and state record for the highest grade point average (GPA) ever, posting an 11.84 weighted GPA thanks to honors and Advanced Placement courses. He will continue his education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), already having earned his associate’s degree through dual enrollment. (Mike Camunas)

“I still don’t know how he was able to do it — just finding the drive and time to do all (the classes). We weren’t looking to break any records,” he said.

But that is exactly what Dylan did.

When the 17 year old graduated with nearly 500 of his classmates on May 23 — he did so with an 11.84 grade point average — the highest ever, not only in the county, but in Florida, too.

It’s a remarkable feat — one that started back when Dylan was in eighth grade and was already taking college-level courses.

“It wasn’t planned, the record,” Dylan said. “These classes, to me, are fun. So, why not take them and experience any class to see if I want to take that a higher level later?”

That higher level for Dylan is now the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),  beginning in the fall. As he enters, he already will have an associate’s degree that he received from Hillsborough Community College on May 6.

However, Dylan plans to take every course he can en route to earning his major in what MIT calls 6-3: Computer Science and Engineering

“I want to enjoy it,” Dylan said. “I know it’ll be a lot harder, too, but the first semester at MIT is pass/fail only, that way students can get used to the rigors of MIT, know what is expected of them and how to balance school life.

“I love the campus and I’m ready to get up there.”

The fact that Thomas Mazard doesn’t know how his son pulled off his GPA feat is not hyperbole.

“I’m inspired by my son,” Thomas said, “Everything I’ve done for him, I’ve done for all of my students. I have top kids going to Yale and produce Ivy Leaguers almost every school year. Everything that he did at school, every kid here at Gaither has the opportunity to do that, it’s just the will and desire to go do that.

“We’re grateful for the school district to provide these opportunities and get such an impressive GPA. (Hillsborough County School Board) Superintendent (Addison) Davis has done a great job of making parents aware of these available opportunities.”

Dylan loves being in class, he also enjoys a social life that includes friends, movies and working out. He’s also belongs to so many clubs that it would make any college admissions advisor drool.

Dylan is president of National Technical Honor Society and also in the Robotics and Engineering Club at Gaither, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), National Honor Society Beta, Sandy Hook Promise Club, and a Parent Teacher Student Association Board Member as the voice for his class and students when they want to express an opinion at meetings. He also works at the Humane Society, as well as tutor at Gaither, where he logged more than 200 hours with Credit Recovery, which helps high-risk seniors graduate.

Dylan’s teachers have taken notice, not only because of his high GPA, but also to his dedication to education.

“It is amazing because (toward the end of their high school time), many students give up a little — he never gave up,” ” said Gaither engineering teacher Ibrahim Ayoub, who taught Dylan in Applied Engineering and Technology and Advanced Engineering Application.

“He is going to have an amazing career and be one of the kids that we’ll be looking forward to seeing in the future,” Ayoub added.

Dylan knows this wouldn’t have been possible without his supportive family.

“I wouldn’t say (learning something new) just clicked, but it definitely came to me a lot easier than you would expect at that age,” he said.

“I had a huge support system, especially my parents who were always proactive, not reactive — staying one step ahead at all times, so if I ever stumbled, they would check to see if I needed anything,” he added. “I just wanted to work hard and take advantage of everything high school had to offer.”

GPA explained
Gaither High valedictorian Dylan Mazard has now posted the highest grade point average (GPA) ever, not only in Hillsborough County, but in the state of Florida. This is his weighted GPA, which means more rigorous courses receive higher point values, increasing a student’s potential GPA. There have been some high GPAs in Hillsborough County.

Here are a few:
2022 – Dylan Mazard – Gaither – 11.84
2019 – Katherine Metheny – Newsome – 10.58
2014 – Dhara Patel – Plant City – 10.03
2012 – Ravi Medikonda – King – 9.30

Published June 01, 2022

Pasco County Schools announces bell times for 2022-2023

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Pasco County Schools has announced its planned bell times for the coming year — as it continues struggling with a bus driver shortage.

In the school year that just wrapped up, the district changed its bell times at mid-year because it couldn’t attract enough drivers to cover all of its routes.

It was a massive shuffle, affecting schools across the district.

Some of the shifts were relatively minor, but there were 24 elementary schools that didn’t begin the school day until 10:10 a.m.

In the coming year, six elementary schools and two other schools will have that 10:10 a.m. start time.

At a May 17 school board meeting, the board adopted next year’s bell schedule.

They did so, after Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent for support services, recapped why the start and end times had to be shifted across the district in the 2021-2022 school year, which concluded last week.

“At the beginning of this school year, transportation had 420 routes,” Kuhn said. “As you are fully aware, we did make some significant changes for second semester, beginning second semester with 367 routes. At this point in time, we have 353,” Kuhn said.

Changes have been made for the coming year with the goal of creating the most efficient plan  possible, while ensuring that students can be transported to and from school safely. The district also made significant efforts to reduce the number of schools with 10:10 a.m. start times, she said.

“We went from 24 elementary schools to a proposal of six elementary schools and then two additional schools, East and West Pasco Education Academy, starting at that time.

“This proposal is certainly not perfect, but we believe it is a big improvement and will allow us to take the steps that we need to, to be as efficient as we can, given our driver shortage,” she said.

Kuhn also told board members: “It is important to note that even with this very efficient plan, we will be starting the school year down 22 drivers, if we have everyone currently employed with us, staying with us.

“We will be focusing efforts again and continuing on recruitment and, very importantly, retention this summer and throughout the next school year,” Kuhn said.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin also noted that the district will revisit the issue, should the district’s bus driver situation improve significantly.

Kuhn confirmed potential changes could occur, but noted that even if the district added a several drivers, they would need to be in the right area of the district in order for changes to work.

However, Kuhn said the district is open to making changes, if they are possible, and will bring a proposal forward if that happens.

Board Chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong told Kuhn: “We know you’re working hard on that and we also know how important it is to our parents that we get it right, so we’re going to keep working on it and do the best we can.”

School board member Megan Harding said she understands “how frustrating this (10:10 a.m. start time) can be to our families, and our school teachers and staff.”

But Harding added: “It does come down to the number of buses. (Kuhn) did explain to me that determining which schools are in which tier — I thought she put this perfectly — is like a puzzle.”

The district needs to balance the number of buses evenly, so that it does not have more buses in one tier, compared to the other, Harding said. It also has to look across six bus garages.

“Additionally, even when the tiers are balanced, with the number of buses per tier, transportation staff has to look at the routes to make sure they fit together.

“Given our driver shortage, we have to be as efficient as possible, so students arrive to school on time and are picked up on time,” Harding continued.

Besides being short on regular drivers, the district also is short on relief drivers, Harding noted.

To find out the bell times for your school next year, visit the district’s website, Pasco.k12.fl.us.

Published June 01, 2022

This wilderness trail provides storytime fun

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This story is a walk in the park.

And now, so is “Armadillo Tattletale” by Helen Ketteman.

The Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Department, in conjunction with Pasco County Libraries, collaborated to design and construct StoryWalk®.

It is a 16-station, 1/4-mile, family friendly wooded trail that lets hikers read the story of an armadillo who has large ears and can hear everything — including the secrets of his animal friends.

Lucas Acquaviva, followed by his parents, Joseph and Catie, enjoys StoryWalk® at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park for the first time, having just moved to the New Port Richey area from St. Petersburg. (Mike Camunas)

There are several of these types of trails in other parks across the country, but this is the first in Pasco County.

The featured story was a deliberate choice.

“That book highlights a lot of Florida wildlife,” said Pasco County Libraries Public Communications Specialist Amaris Papadopoulos, who spearheaded the idea to get the trail erected. “We picked a story in which kids could identify and possibly see those animals in the book there at Starkey Park.

“When the pandemic started, there was a real push to have more outdoor activities, so I felt (StoryWalk®) was something we should do as a library system, and it all just came to fruition.”

Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Program Coordinator Rebekah Jenkins and Pasco County Libraries Public Communications Specialist Amaris Papadopoulos stand at the starting station for StoryWalk®. (Courtesy of Pasco County Parks and Recreation)

The project took six months to install, from clearing out the trail for safety, to painting and placing the pink signs. Those were constructed by the park rangers with the assistance of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), which is the full-time service program that allows young adults to make an impact in communities across the country while gaining valuable leadership skills.

The AmeriCorps NCCC had a nine-member team work for seven weeks on several Pasco County Parks projects including StoryWalk®, painting the north restroom at SunWest Park in Hudson, spraying more than 2 acres of invasive species at Pasco Palms Preserve in New Port Richey, and landscape improvement at Crews Lake Wilderness Park in Spring Hill and Lake Lisa Park in Port Richey.

“Amaris basically came to me and asked if there was a park that could accommodate a StoryWalk®,” Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Program Coordinator Rebekah Jenkins said.

“We chose Starkey Park because it is our most popular park and gets the most foot traffic. When we want to try new things (in parks), we always start with Starkey because it has a good track record of people seeing it and giving us feedback.

“And, so far, the people who have seen (StoryWalk®) have really enjoyed it because it has a cute story with wildlife you could see at Starkey.”

Children of young age and parents are seen enjoying StoryWalk® at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, which, with 16 stations, tell the story “Armadillo Tattletale” by Helen Ketteman. (Mike Camunas)

Families that are discovering StoryWalk® for the first time couldn’t agree more.

“We read about it in our neighborhood (Facebook) group that recommended it,” said Catie Acquaviva, who, with her husband and kids, just moved to New Port Richey from St. Petersburg. “And, we decided to check it out with our oldest (child) and see if our two younger kids would like it. It’s so nice!”

“Yeah, we’re loving it and so is (our son, Lucas),” her husband, Joseph Acquaviva, added. “We’ll definitely bring all the kids to it.”

The trail is located behind the day-use playground in the park, which is near the back near Parking Lot 3.

Jenkins said Starkey Park is quite proud of StoryWalk® and hopes other parks will pursue similar initiatives.

“We love trying new amenities at our parks and hope people really take to this,” she added.

Papadopoulos is a native of New Port Richey and grew up going to Starkey Park with her family as a kid and has worked for the county’s libraries since 2015.

It was thrilling for her to see StoryWalk® come to life.

“When it was finally done, and I was first out there, I was just like, ‘Is this real? Is this actually happening?’” Papadopoulos said.

“Seeing all the work go into it, to see the posts in the ground holding the signs — it was an emotional experience, and then to see the first kids walk the trail and their excitement … I mean, that is why we do what we do.”

StoryWalk® at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park
Where: 10500 Wilderness Park Blvd., New Port Richey
When: The park is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., daily.
Details: A 16-station, 1/4-mile trail located behind the playground at the park and tells the story “Armadillo Tattletale” by Helen Ketteman
Info: Call the Pasco Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Department at 727-934-4198, or visit tinyurl.com/2mf78mxz.

Published June 01, 2022

Budget discussions begin in Pasco

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A Pasco County budget workshop provided a preliminary look at the upcoming fiscal year, but County Administrator Dan Biles told the county board he’s holding off on any recommended initiatives until he has more numbers.

“We do not have the preliminary assessed values yet from the property appraiser,” Biles told the county board at a May 24 workshop. So, he told the board, the workshop would focus on “trends and what it looks like going forward.”

Robert Goehig, the county’s budget director, told the board that the scenario the county is working with is based on the taxable assessed values increasing at a rate of 10.8%, the same rate as last year.

Goehig noted that’s “not a crazy assumption, given the amount of construction going on in the county.”

Based on the 10.8% rate, revenues would increase by about $27.2 million, of which 40% — or about $10.9 million — would be allocated to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, the budget director said.

“After that, if we deduct the payments to the taxable increment finance trust fund and for the Community Redevelopment Agencies, that’s $3.63 million.

“That leaves $12.7 million or so for the board to spend on new initiatives,” the budget director said.

The county’s Fire Municipal Services Tax Unit is expected to yield 12.6% in additional revenues, which will provide $7.3 million in additional revenues for initiatives.

Goehig also outlined a number of fire rescue enhancements under consideration. They include:

  • Rescue 223 in Land O’ Lakes, at State Road 54 and U.S. 41
  • Rescue 226 in Wesley Chapel
  • Two peak-hour rescue units to reduce rescue response times
  • 25 additional full-time equivalent positions
  • New furniture and equipment for fire stations

The workshop also covered some proposed 2023 capital expenditures. Those include building renovations, information technology hardware and software, athletic field renovations, drainage improvements, park maintenance, and the renovation of the tax collector’s office at the West Pasco Government Center, among other things.

The county has received 140 business plan initiatives from department directors, but Biles said he won’t be making any recommendations on those until he has more information from the property appraiser’s office, which is expected June 1.

Biles said once that information is available, he will have individual sessions with board members to discuss potential budget items. If the board wants additional group discussion on the budget, time can be set aside at a June meeting, he said.

Goehig said there are some expenses the county must cover in fiscal year 2023.

For instance, the cost of fuel has gone up. Last year, the county budgeted it at $2.65 a gallon. This year, the county is budgeting it at $3.65 a gallon. It would budget more, but the county doesn’t pay taxes on fuel, Goehig said.

The county also is feeling the impacts of inflation, which is currently at about 8.5%, Goehig said.

“That is really hitting our departments that rely heavily on building, vehicles and IT (information technology). So, those costs continue to escalate,” the budget director said.

He also noted that the county has a compensation and classification study underway, which will result in recommended salary adjustments.

That state is increasing salaries by 5.38, Biles said.

“So, we kind of set that as a floor. We want to at least be equivalent to what the state gave state employees,” he said.

The county salary study is expected to be completed in mid-July.

That study will base adjustments based on what employees do and the market rate.

“I expect the average to be over 5.3, probably somewhere under 7,” Biles said, referring to expected percentages of wage increases.

The county also must cover increased costs for employee retirement contributions, Goehig said.

Some departments will be faced with rising costs.

For instance, Goehig expects Fire/Rescue to experience a 13.3% increase, largely because of fuel costs and equipment maintenance expenses.

Information technology is expected to face a 6.4% increase, due to increases in software contracts and inflationary impact on hardware, he said.

The county also is facing increased costs for outside spending, including an expected 7.5% increase for Medicaid, which is a state-imposed cost on the county, Goehig said.

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey told her colleagues the county needs to find a way to increase funding for public safety.

“We all love Pasco County. It’s very inexpensive to live here. That comes at a price. And, at what point do we have a responsibility to fund fire and safety at a higher level. I just want you to think about that,” she told her colleagues.

The county board is expected to set to adopt the Truth in Millage tax rate at its July 12 meeting. This is the process used to inform property owners what the maximum ad valorem millage rate is that could be adopted by the board in September. The board cannot adopt a higher rate than the one it specifies in July, but it can reduce it.

Pasco County Budget
Preliminary budget recommendations from County Administrator Dan Biles, include:

  • No increase in the operating millage rate of 7.6076
  • No increase in the Fire Municipal Services Taxing Unit millage rate of 1.8036
  • No change to the stormwater assessment (The combined rate of that is about 2.7%)
  • Increased water and wastewater rates, in accordance with the four-year rate resolution

Published June 01, 2022

Pasco continues working toward shifting jail operations

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The Pasco County Commission has approved allocating $150,000 to help cover legal expenses connected to the county’s takeover of jail operations from Sheriff Chris Nocco.

The shift has been scheduled for Oct. 1, but discussion during the county board’s May 17 meeting made it clear that the takeover date could be subject to change.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder asked for the additional funds, in a memo, which was contained in the county board’s agenda packet.

In that memo, Steinsnyder asked to retain the firm of Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson, P.A.

Pasco County is planning to take over operations of the county jail, as a county department. The scheduled date is Oct. 1, but that did not appear to be locked in, during discussions at a May 17 Pasco County Commission meeting. (Mike Camunas)

The county attorney also noted his office was not involved in the decision to shift the operations.

“I have subsequently briefed the board on the county’s options and my legal concerns with the county’s assumption of jail operations,” his memo says.

He noted the operating the jail as a county department likely will place additional burdens on his office, associated with drafting an interlocal agreement with the sheriff and other related legal documents, as well as addressing other legal questions and issues.

“The county attorney’s office does not currently have the resources to handle this additional

workload and cannot reallocate existing resources without adversely impacting other important

county projects,” the memo adds.

To help address those issues, Steinsnyder said his office has retained the Nabors law firm to draft the interlocal agreement and other related legal documents.

Nabors has estimated that cost at $60,000, but Steinsnyder said because the extent of the work is unknown, his office and the county’s office of internal services administration are recommending the $150,000 budget, to cover additional, unforeseen work.

Besides retaining Nabors, Steinsnyder recommends the board direct the county’s risk management department to solicit and obtain liability insurance for the county’s future operation of the jail, with the exact insurance types and amounts to be determine by risk management, in consultation with Steinsnyder’s office and outside counsel.

The county attorney also strongly recommended the board not rely solely on self-insurance or sovereign immunity limitations to address the potential financial consequences of jail-related claims, the memo says.

He also noted: “To the extent that miscellaneous jail-related legal questions cannot be handled by existing positions in the county attorney’s office, they will be addressed in a future budget request.”

While the county attorney’s office has secured additional help, Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles told the board the final list of items to be included in a transition accounting is being determined, and once it is finalized, quotes will be sought from three external auditing firms to complete the work.

The board already has allocated $150,000 for that task.

Alvarez-Sowles told the board that a comprehensive list had been completed, but she said it is too lengthy to be completed on time, within budget.

So, it is in the process of being pared down.

“What we’re looking at is keeping the things on the list that are essential. What are non-essential, that can be done with the county and the jail working together,” the clerk said.

To complicate matters, County Administrator Dan Biles announced his resignation at the end of the same meeting. The effective date of his resignation is Sept. 30, but he has accrued personal time off, so his last working day will be July 31.

Pasco Commissioner Jack Mariano asked if the county has enough time, to be prepared to take over the jail operations on Oct. 1, especially in light of Biles’ departure.

Biles said that he always considered Oct. 1 to be very aggressive date for the shift.

Steinsnyder said that date is not mandatory, but that the board would have to negotiate the issue with the sheriff.

Published June 01, 2022