The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Pasco County Schools recognizes Medal of Honor recipients

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The Pasco County School Board took a moment from its March 7 meeting to honor the men and women recipients of the nation’s Medal of Honor.

State law designates March 25 as Medal of Honor Day, and required instruction on that day is intended to encourage patriotism and to make students aware of the sacrifices that veterans and Medal of Honor recipients have made in protecting democracy, according to a proclamation adopted by the school board.

Medal of Honor recipients are recognized for rising above the call of duty “at the risk of grave injury and loss of life,” the proclamation adds.

These “fearless service members distinguished themselves as heroes in the eyes of their comrades through their bravery and self-sacrifice,” according to the proclamation.

The U.S. Congress established the Medal of Honor in 1862, “as the highest award to be given to the country’s military forces in recognition of their incredible valor during armed conflict,” the proclamation says.

Before reading it, school board member Colleen Beaudoin addressed board members and others attending or watching the meeting.

“This really is more than a proclamation. This district is very committed to this,” Beaudoin said, noting she’s attending training on the topic with staff and teachers.

Teachers create lesson plans relating to the day, Beaudoin said.

Schools also have welcomed Medal of Honor recipients, who have come to speak at many schools over the years, the board member said.

Published March 22, 2023

R.B. Cox Elementary celebrates Black History and diversity

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The faculty and staff at R.B. Cox Elementary celebrates diversity throughout the school year.

“Our population of the community we serve here is very diverse,” Principal Kimberly Natal said. “Most of our students are Hispanic and African American, so it’s important to the community and it’s important to celebrate that diversity we have here at R.B. Cox and our community we serve.

“So, through committees, we plan this every year — we have a Hispanic Heritage and Black History celebration every year.”

The school held a Black Heritage Celebration on March 3, complete with educational and entertaining performances, readings and presentations.

Angela Theodore, from Hugh Embry Library in Dade City, tells the story ‘Anansi Does the Impossible!’ on March 3 during Black Heritage Celebration at R.B. Cox Elementary in Dade City. Students, families and community members attended the event to watch presentations and performances about Black Heritage and to see part of the Rosewood Traveling Museum. (Mike Camunas)

It ended with a traditional soul food dinner. 

“We celebrate diversity a lot at this school,” said secretary Monica Russ, who heads up the Black History Month Committee at the school. “At R.B. Cox, this is one of the times we do that, where we invite everyone out to come join and celebrate and learn about Black history and diversity.

“And everyone is welcome.”

Faces in the crowd proved that people of all races came together for the celebration — a fact that pleased the R.B. Cox event organizers.

“We have Black families, Hispanic families, even some white families and part of our police department is here, too,” Russ said. “Anyone that just wants to come out and be a part of us and part of this community — and we’re very pleased with how it turned out. Whenever you can get parents in the doors with kids and they learn something, come together as a community and enjoy time together, we’ll take it.

“The free soul food was a great draw, too,” she said, with a laugh.

The Rosewood Traveling Museum was a new highlight this year.

The Black Heritage Celebration, on March 3 at R.B. Cox Elementary, attracted a diverse crowd to enjoy educational and entertaining performances, as well as a soul food dinner.

The museum, and its foundation, is dedicated to remembering the town of Rosewood, which, in January 1923, underwent a racially motivated massacre of Black people and the destruction of the Black town in Levy County, Florida.

At least six Black people were killed, but eyewitness accounts suggested a death toll of 27 to 150.

The museum had about 10% of its collection on display, but the exhibit will be available to see at Pioneer Florida Museum & Village starting on Juneteenth (June 19).

Representatives from the Rosewood Family were on hand at R.B. Cox to tell about the museum and its causes and share some history of the massacre. Its choir also performed.

Harriet Clemons dances to music performed by the Rosewood Choir on March 3, during a Black Heritage Celebration at R.B. Cox Elementary, in Dade City.

“I’m connected to the (Rosewood) group through marriage,” Russ said. “It touched my family, so that’s what I think about when I think about Black History. … (Rosewood) is honoring 100 years, so (when) given the opportunity for them to come and share it with us, I jumped at it.

“Because I think it’s a great way to let people know who aren’t aware of that history, and we want to share our history,” she said.

Natal said she was pleased with the turnout, and the message for honoring “Bridge Builders, Obstacle Movers, World Changers” at the celebration. She also said the Black Heritage event, and the Hispanic Heritage one the school held in the fall, were the first ones held, post-COVID restrictions. 

She said it was uplifting to see the enthusiasm for the event’s return — from both staff and students.

“This year, we wanted to do it big since we hadn’t done it in a while,” Natal said. “It was a real grassroots effort from the staff to really bring in the community and celebrate the culture, and I think we’ll see even more people next time,” she said.

It’s important, the principal said, “for the kids to celebrate their heritages.”

Remember Rosewood – Centennial: 100 Years of History
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
When: Starting June 19
Details: The Rosewood Traveling Museum will be on display at Pioneer Village starting the week of Juneteenth (June 19), at no charge.
The Rosewood Museum is dedicated to remembering the town of Rosewood, which, in January 1923, underwent a racially motivated massacre of black people and the destruction of the black town in Levy County, Florida. At least six black people were killed, but eyewitness accounts have suggested a death toll of 27 to 150.
Info: Visit RememberingRosewood.com or PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.

Published March 15, 2023

Jada McClendon, of Dade City, performs on the drums on March 3, during a musical number at the Black Heritage Celebration at R.B. Cox Elementary.
The Rosewood Choir performed on March 3, during the Black Heritage Celebration at R.B. Cox Elementary, in Dade City.
R.B. Cox Elementary staff members wore shirts emphasizing such ideals as empowerment, education, inspiration and celebration, during the school’s Black Heritage Celebration on March 3.

Angeline Academy to help prepare the way for AI careers 

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It’s almost impossible today to watch any news program without hearing about an innovation relating to Artificial Intelligence, or AI, for short.

There already are plenty of jobs in the field — just waiting for people who are equipped to tackle the challenges.

Angeline Academy of Innovation — a magnet school in Pasco County — plans to help provide additional options to its students and to address that talent gap through its Artificial Intelligence coursework.

It is adding the AI option to the curriculum at the magnet school, set to open at 8916 Angeline School Way, near the Suncoast Parkway and Ridge Road in August. 

Initially, the school will serve students in grades six through 10, but plans call for adding grades 11 and 12.

JoAnne Glenn is the school’s inaugural principal.

She explained the school’s decision for adding AI, in an email to The Laker/Lutz News.

Specifically, she said:

  • AI jobs are plenty, with hiring growing by 32% in the last couple of years and expected to increase.
  • There is a high talent gap—not enough qualified applicants for vacant positions.
  • AI professionals earn top salaries, well north of $100,000 yearly.
  • As a rapidly evolving industry, growth opportunities in AI careers are diverse.
  • AI careers are flexible—AI experts can be a freelancer, consultant, researcher, practitioner, or even build AI products as entrepreneurs.

Angeline’s content will address the five big ideas in AI, Glenn added. Those are: “perception; representation and reasoning; machine learning; human AI interaction; and societal impacts of AI.”

Angeline Academy of Innovation is taking shape in the emerging ‘city’ of Angeline. The magnet school for grades six through 12 is expected to live up to its name — by offering curriculum options and learning experiences aimed to help students prepare for an ever-evolving world of work. The school recently announced it will offer coursework focusing on Artificial Intelligence, or AI, for short. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

The course content also includes practical experiences in AI system design, deployment, and evaluation. 

The sequence of the four courses relies on equipment and materials that already are part of the school’s Computer Science and Cybersecurity pathway, enabling the school to provide AI coursework.

The introductory semester course is called Artificial Intelligence in the World, Glenn said. There’s also a Procedural Programming course.

After accepting her role, Glenn created a video to explain Angeline’s philosophy and mission, as well as providing practical details about what to expect at the school.

She told viewers that Angeline’s planning is intentional to make its “learning experiences exciting and engaging, and connected to the real world to prepare our students for their lives after high school.”

She went on to explain: “Our key levers to support this work include rigorous instruction; a compassionate school environment that ensures that our students feel cared for and supported; equitable instructional practices, meaning we believe in having an open door; and, allowing students to feel supported in taking academic risks and trying new things.

“These three levers are actually the foundation that we believe are essential to ensuring that our students leave our system prepared for college, career and life,” she added.

The high school will offer career academies, as well as opportunities to merge some fields — enabling students to create a more personalized track.

The school will be near Moffitt Cancer Center’s Pasco County campus, which has been christened Speros FL.

The school district has been collaborating with Moffitt to give students the chance to experience internships, externships and the opportunity to work directly with scientists, doctors and other experts.

Construction activities are ramping up on Moffitt’s 775-acre campus, with the first phase of the project in the northwest corner of its property near the Suncoast Parkway and Ridge Road.

A Moffitt official previously reported that Moffitt likely will build on about 500 acres of the land, leaving views of nature for patients.

The Moffitt site is entitled for up to 24 million square feet of development, but its current master plan calls for about 13.5 million square feet of mixed uses.

At full build out, the campus is expected to have about 140 buildings, according to a previously published report in The Laker/Lutz News. It also is expected to attract cancer researchers and life sciences companies from around the globe.

Upcoming School Choice Window
A second school choice window will be open from April 12 to April 19. Students and families from the central Pasco region who are interested in joining grades six through 10 at Angeline Academy of Innovation are invited to apply using the School Choice application in the school’s  parent portal.
Seats in grades six through eight are awarded by lottery, while high school students must meet minimum requirements for grades and standardized tests.
For more information, visit tinyurl.com/2y8shnef.

Published March 15, 2023

Founder’s Day not lost, returns after two-year hiatus

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It’s been more than two years, but the Annual Founder’s Day Festival, Celebration and Parade returned to historic downtown Zephyrhills on March 4, ushering in some changes, but ones that were greatly welcomed.

The 112th edition of Founder’s Day Festival kicked off on March 4, returning after a two-year hiatus due to COVID and scheduling conflicts. Dozens of vendors set up shop, up and down Main Street in historic downtown Zephyrhills, with a handful of booths dedicated to the three mayoral candidates and two more for the city council seat up for election on April 11. (Mike Camunas)

For starters, the parade and festivities, which were canceled last May due to weather and held off in 2021 due to COVID, returned, not only in a big way, but at a time change.

While there were activities all day long throughout Zephyrhills, dozens of vendors set up at 4 p.m. to welcome residents and shoppers up and down Main Street. Included in those were booths dedicated to the two running for the City Council Seat 2, up for election on April 11. Incumbent Alan Knight had a booth and was shaking hands, while his challenger, Steve Spina — a former Zephyrhills City Manager — also had a booth.

The three mayoral candidates — Nick Deford, Melanie Bahr Monson and Martin Harm — vying for the position relinquished by exiting mayor, Gene Whitfield, also had booths and greeted potential voters through the late afternoon and evening.

The parade, also returning, was pushed into the evening, a departure from years past when it was held in the early afternoon.

Main Street Zephyrhills Director Erin Beasley said moving the parade to the evening was a change welcomed by most.

Although the attendance was not as large as in previous years, the parade will remain in the evening and the festival will add more things, she said.

Those could include adding ”a 5K or getting booths and other exhibits to the other historical sites around town,” Beasley said. “It’s special, it’s a community and it’s the hometown experience. People come out and they value where they live.”

Parade judges Madonna Wise, Erica Freeman and Amanda Eskelund picked the winner of this year’s parade, with Kids Corner winning Best of Show. Rounding out the other parade awards were Zephyrhills High School Marching Band for Best Walking Unit; Zephyrhills Little League, Best Costume; Zephyrhills Sanitation and Utilities, Best Vehicles; Zephyr Airport Cadet Squadron of the Florida Wing, Civil Air Patrol, Best Club; and West Zephyrhills Elementary won Best Theme.

Candidates vying in the municipal election also took part in the parade, on car or truck floats, tossing beads and other trinkets. Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley was there, too.

AdventHealth, Shireman Pest Control, Red Feather Home Group, the City of Zephyrhills and Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency sponsored the event.

Published March 15, 2023

A Zephyrhills couple dances at the Clock Plaza in historic downtown on Fifth Avenue, to the sounds of the Time Travelers during the Annual Founder’s Day Celebration on March 4. Festivities ran all day, with vendors up and down Main Street and a parade later in the evening.
The color guard team of the Zephyrhills High Marching Band leads the way down Main Street during the Founder’s Day Celebration Parade on the evening of March 4.
Sandra Vogelpohl, a member of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, has a good laugh while in full costume prior to the Founder’s Day Festival Parade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve Spina rides in a car float to promote his bid for the Zephyrhills City Council Seat 2, which he is challenging Alan Knight for in the municipal elections being held April 11.
The Zephyrhills High Marching Band made its way down Fifth Avenue, playing music and performing with its color guard unit during the 112th Founder’s Day Festival Parade on March 4.
Andres Mujica, of Tampa, sends a big shot during a life-sized game of beer pong outside of A.O.K. arcade on Fifth Street in historic downtown Zephyrhills during the Founder’s Day Festival on March 4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zephyrhills resident Josh Larramore dances with his daughter, Bellamie, while listening to the Time Travelers during the 112th Founder’s Day Festival on March 4.
A Zephyrhills couple dances at the Clock Plaza in historic downtown on Fifth Avenue, to the sounds of the Time Travelers during the Annual Founder’s Day Celebration on March 4. Festivities ran all day, with vendors up and down Main Street and a parade later in the evening.
Zephyrhills Police Chief Derek Brewer tosses beads to spectators while walking in the Founder’s Day Festival Parade on March 4.

Pasco officials are optimistic as they plan county’s 2024 budget

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Pasco County has taken a pulse on its economy and the prognosis is good.

Pasco County Budget Director Robert Goehig gave the Pasco County Commission an overview of the county’s economic conditions, as the board prepares to make decisions for the county’s 2024 budget.

He began his presentation this way: “We’ve all heard the horror stories out there, ‘There’s going to be a recession, there’s not going to be a recession. There’s going to be an economic downturn, there won’t be an economic downturn.’

“One thing we know is that with the exception of the wild swing in the economy at the beginning of COVID, the economy has been growing at about 2% per quarter for the past 10 years.

“We expect that trend to continue for the near upcoming future and if there is a recession, we believe that our area, because of the growth in our region, we are much more able to withstand the negative impacts of any recession — more so than other areas of the economy.”

That being said, Goehig said Pasco isn’t immune to increased labor costs resulting from record-low unemployment rates and higher costs due to inflation.

The region’s inflation rate is 9.6%, which primarily affects health care, energy, vehicle and construction costs, Goehig said.

On a brighter note, though, “tourism is back to where it was prior to the pandemic,” he said.

That’s important in Pasco because about 12% of the county’s sales tax revenue is generated by visitors to the county, he said.

The county’s building activity remains strong.

“We are at record highs in our building permits and for that reason we are expecting the 2024 taxable values to be at, or a little below, where they were in 2023.

“As  you can see, in 2023, taxable values increased by 16.7%,” Goehig said.

This year, the county expects the increased values to be between 12% and 16%.

“In 2023, new construction was at an all-time high, even higher than 2008,” Goehig said.

“We are expecting that to reduce to kind of the average. We are not expecting this to stay at this very high level forever. And, we’re certainly not expecting it to drop off like it did during the Recession.”

For planning purposes, if the county’s taxable assessed values increase by 12%, that would yield an additional $35.5 million in property tax revenues, the budget director said.

Of that, portions would go to the Sheriff’s Office, the Community Redevelopment Agencies and for transportation improvements.

Once those are subtracted, the county would have about $18.4 million for new initiatives and to address budget increase requests from the county’s constitutional officers.

If the county’s values increase by 16%, the board would have about $25 million in additional property tax revenues, Goehig said.

He also gave the board an overview of expected revenues from the half-cent sales tax, Penny for Pasco and Local Option Fuel Tax revenues.

The half-cent sales tax and Penny for Pasco are expected to have increased revenues in the 5% to 6% range. The Local Option Fuel Tax revenues have been growing at a rate of about 2% a year and that trend is likely to lessen as more electric vehicles hit the road, Goehig said.

As it builds its budget, the county must allocate more funds for personnel that will be needed at the expanded jail, a new library and new fire station. Plus, it plans to take over the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus, which has been operated by Radd Sports.

So, while more revenues are expected to come in, the county’s administration is recommending that spending in the 2024 budget is divided between new initiatives and capital spending.

The capital spending would address existing needs and it can be pulled back, if the county needs to make an adjustment, Goehig said.

In essence, he said: “We’re entering into the 2024 budget year optimistic, but we want to stay agile, in case there is a recession or something comes up that we need to respond to.”

The county board is expected to have a workshop on May 16 to discuss the upcoming budget in greater detail.

Pasco County’s 2024 budget outlook
Key expense drivers for Pasco County’s 2024 budget

  • Increased operating costs for expanded jail
  • Opening of a new fire station and a new library
  • Assuming operations of Wiregrass Sports Complex
  • Increased Medicaid costs
  • Increased employer-paid health care and retirement costs
  • Increased property and worker’s compensation insurance costs
  • Increased employee compensation costs
  • Inflationary impact on costs of health care, construction materials and vehicles

Revenue outlook

  • Expect growth of at least 12% in taxable assessed values, putting the county in a good position for the 2024 budget year.
  • Expect record growth trends to slow at some point, so county administration recommends a spending plan that splits new revenues, new initiatives and capital spending.

Source: Pasco County Budget Director Robert Goehig’s economic outlook

Published March 15, 2023

Harp player brings soothing sounds to patients

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Judy Raab, “musician in residence” at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz, administers a different kind of medicine to the patients there.

“My hope is to improve the hospital environment, bring down the stress level and humanize being in the hospital,” Raab said, in a news release from the hospital.

Judy Raab is a ‘musician in residence’ at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz. (Courtesy of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North)

She plays for two hours a week, asking patients if they are open to a music session.

She usually plays for them in their rooms or in an area just outside their rooms where patients can hear her. If she plays for a patient, her session is charted on the patient’s medical record, similar to them receiving medicine.

The Carrollwood resident is a certified music practitioner and has played harp for more than 35 years, including 10 years at St. Joseph’s North.

She plays for patients, staff and visitors and is compensated through BayCare’s spiritual care department and St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation, according to the release.

Raab said the instrument is a good fit for the hospital environment due to its soothing and soft nature.

“The harp is not overwhelming like a wind instrument that can occupy a whole room,” Raab said, in the release. “With the harp, I can project directly to that individual person.”

The musician has written about her work and has been published in scholarly journals on the subject. She holds a unique degree: a Master of Arts (MA) in arts in medicine from the University of Florida. The degree teaches people how to safely and effectively engage the arts, like music, into health care environments.

Raab said her work is rewarding. “It is very satisfying and fulfilling to use my skill set and be certified to play in hospitals,” she said. “It is nice to hear a patient say ‘This is really cathartic, it is really helping me.’”

Raab also plays the harp at hospitals at St. Joseph’s Hospital and St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital, in Tampa, as well as other health care facilities.

Published March 15, 2023

Longtime Rays broadcaster Dave Wills passes away

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Dave Wills, one-half of the Tampa Bay Rays’ radio broadcasting team for the past 18 seasons, died in the early morning of March 5, according to a team news release.

Wills, who lived in Lutz, joined the Rays in 2005, along with partner Andy Freed, and were fan favorites and considered one of the top radio duos in Major League Baseball.

(Courtesy of Tampa Bay Rays)

“Dave was an outstanding broadcaster, a great friend, and an even better person,” Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg said in a statement. “He had a remarkable talent for bringing the game to life for our fans and was a vital part of the Rays family. We will miss him dearly, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

Wills, who was 58 at his death, lived in the Heritage Harbor community, off Lutz Lake Fern Road.

During the 2022 season, Wills missed the final two weeks due to “a little bit of a heart situation” after being hospitalized in Toronto. At the time, he said on his  social media that he was diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia, which is an irregularly fast or erratic heartbeat (arrhythmia) that affects the heart’s upper chambers.

Wills returned to work the Rays broadcast for their playoff series against Cleveland in October. He also worked on the broadcast for the Rays’ March 4 Spring Training game against the New York Yankees.

In a news release, the team also noted: “During his time with the Rays, Wills became a beloved figure among fans for his passion, enthusiasm and expertise. He called some of the most memorable moments in Rays history, including the team’s run to the World Series in 2008 and 2020. Wills was known for his impeccable play-by-play calling, his insightful analysis, and his infectious personality. His contributions to the Rays organization and the Tampa Bay community will never be forgotten.”

The team will honor Wills with a special pregame tribute during the season, with details to be announced at a later date.

Wills is survived by his wife, Liz; son, Alex; and daughter, Michelle.

Published March 15, 2023

Pasco board discusses tax rate, potential new assessments

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As the Pasco County Commission looks ahead to the county’s 2024 budget, discussions are emerging about the county’s millage rate and whether new municipal service taxing units (MSTUs) should be established to address specific county needs.

Commissioner Seth Weightman got the conversation rolling by reminding his colleagues that in the coming tax year, the new school tax will go online and the county is considering new taxing districts for road paving and dredging.

That’s on top of the average increase in property taxes, he said.

The newly elected commissioner said he wanted to go on record that he recognizes the various tax increases and said the board must be mindful in setting its tax rate for the coming fiscal year.

Commissioner Gary Bradford, also new to the board, agreed with Weightman.

“Some of these are a choice. That’s us, up here, making those choices,” Bradford said.

But veteran board members Ron Oakley, Kathryn Starkey and Jack Mariano made it clear that they have no appetite for reducing the county’s current millage rate.

The millage rate is the tax rate assessed against property, with one mil equaling $1 for every thousand dollars of assessed property value.

Florida law caps the maximum amount of the increase that can be applied annually and some property owners qualify for additional reductions in specific categories.

In addition to supporting the current millage rate, Starkey is advocating for a countywide MSTU to address the shortage of playing fields and parks. Mariano also raised the prospect of establishing an MSTU aimed at the county’s drainage needs.

An MSTU provides a mechanism for collecting taxes from a delineated area to address specific needs.

Pasco already is eyeing an increase in its park impact fees, which are charged against new development to address impacts of growth. 

“I know we’re talking about raising the impact fees, but that is not money that you can bond and that’s going to take a while to build up so that we have capital money to go build some more parks,” Starkey said.

“But an MSTU we can bond. I’m not saying it should be a big number. I think it should be, you know, $25 or something like that. But it gets some money in the hopper quickly and we can bond it and go build some soccer fields and baseball fields because we are way behind.

“We actually have a Starkey Little League District now and they have no field to play. It’s the first new Little League since I moved here 30 years ago,” she said.

Mariano noted that the Southwest Florida Water Management District has reduced the number of grants that are available locally. He thinks residents would support an MSTU to tackle drainage problems to reduce flooding problems.

Commissioner Ron Oakley is standing firm on the county’s current millage rates.

“You can’t cut back millage. 

“There’s a day coming that won’t always be values like we’ve had in the last few years,” the commissioner said.

“If you change the millage rate, you change the ability to ever get that back.

“We’ve got a lot of things happening in our county to be premiere, but it costs money to be premiere,” Oakley said.

Commission Chairman Mariano agreed.

“It’s a different game from what it was, I’ll say, 18 years ago. People want services. I think they like what the board’s doing. I think we should continue on, providing services that they’re asking us for. We’re not just raising taxes, we’re giving them the services they want,” Mariano said.

Published March 15, 2023

Help the shelter to help the rescues

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Pasco Friends of Animal Services is dedicated to enriching the lives of pets at the Pasco County Animal Shelter, in Land O’ Lakes, and improving the likelihood of adoption into loving homes. The primary focus of the campaign is to build up the medical fund, which will help enhance the health, welfare and environment of sheltered animals.

During the month of March, Pasco Friends of Animal Services will be the featured charitable giving organization at Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s office, according to a news release.  

“Without question, our medical fund improves the quality and length of those sick and injured animals’ lives and helps them get into their fur-ever homes sooner,” said Abbey Cox, president of Friends of Animal Services, in the release.

“For many of the animals, the medical fund makes the difference between living a happy life and not. On behalf of our board of directors we thank every donor and dedicated employee of the Pasco Tax Collector’s Office for helping to change an animal’s life,” said Cox.  

Donations can be made at any of the tax collector office locations. For more information, visit PascoTaxes.com, or call Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector/Communications & Special Projects, at 727-847-8179.

For more about Pasco Friends of Animal Services, visit FPCAS.org, or call Bridget Mire at 813-929-1212, ext. 1418.

Published March 15, 2023

Pasco offers more homebuyer assistance

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If you are ready to buy a home but are concerned about the down payment, Pasco County has a program that may be able to help.

The Down Payment Assistance Program is offered through the county’s Community Development department.

Changes are being made to increase the possibility of home ownership for homebuyers who otherwise might be unable to purchase a home.

The program now will allow a buyer to qualify for a loan of up to $50,000. The previous maximum was $25,000.

The maximum sales price of a home also has increased up to $275,000, up from $200,000.

Residents of Pasco County can qualify for the program if they earn less than 120% of the area median income.

Community Development provides assistance to income-eligible buyers toward the purchase of a home in Pasco County if you have not owned a home in the last three years. Applicant households who make less than 120% of Area Median Income (AMI) for the Tampa Bay Area may apply for assistance. Funding for both programs is based on current availability for each income level.

All interested homebuyers will need to contact Suncoast Housing Connections to attend a Homebuyer Education Class. Homebuyers must work with a Community Development-approved lender.

Lenders must attend training in order to participate in the Down Payment Assistance Program. All interested lenders will need to email Mari Thieryung to sign up for lender training. 

If you have any questions about the homebuyer programs available through the county, please call Pasco County Community Development at 727-834-3447, or visit MyPas.co/HomeBuyers.

To learn more about Pasco Community Development programs and services, visit MyPasco.net.

Published March 15, 2023