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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Report: Florida facing a serious teacher shortage

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(The Center Square) – The Sunshine State may soon reach crisis levels as a teacher shortage looms.

Florida TaxWatch has released a new report showing that Florida’s teacher salaries rank 50th in the nation and school districts are struggling to fill vacancies.

(Kenny Eliason/Unsplash)

“The well-being of Florida’s K-12 education system should be a concern for all taxpayers. Comprising 43.9% of general revenue spending for Florida’s FY 2023-2024 state budget, education is one of the biggest consumers of taxpayer dollars,” the report says.

According to the report, teacher vacancies declined 13% in four years during the 2023-2024 school year. However, the available vacancies were still more than double those during the 2016-2017 school year.

The Florida Department of Education says in the report that many teachers needing to be certified in the appropriate fields are being hired to fill teaching positions. It also notes that postsecondary institutions need to produce more graduates to meet K-12 needs.

Around 15% of courses offered in F-ranked and D-ranked schools are taught by out-of-field teachers, compared to only 6.4% of courses in A-ranked schools.

The report notes the subject area with the most out-of-field teachers is English for speakers of other languages, often these teachers are instructing lessons in different subject areas. Science-Earth and Space and Science have the most significant demand, equating to two courses per certified teacher.

Florida TaxWatch notes several reasons for the growing shortage, the first being a decline in popularity with 270,000 teachers projected to leave the profession every year. Half of those go on to change careers altogether.

There are also fewer people entering the profession from college, as teacher salaries in Florida continue to lag around $53,000 per year.

Compared to other states, Florida’s cost of living adds further barriers to teacher recruitment despite having no state income tax. Teachers’ take-home pay in states like Pennsylvania, New York and Illinois averages between $500 and $1,000 more for every bi-monthly check after state and federal taxes than Florida’s.

The report notes that Florida lawmakers are trying to elevate these burdens and have launched various programs since 2020. These include the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program, which helps with a down payment and closing costs and increases to teacher salaries in the state budget.

 

Published August 28, 2024.

Garden club looking for youth to help promote monarchs

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The Dade City Garden Club is looking to recruit enthusiastic, nature-loving youth to participate in the newly launched “Monarch Marvels” youth leadership program, to serve as Monarch Project ambassadors at the upcoming Monarch Butterfly Festival. Participants from grades four to eight can attend a three-part workshop to prepare to serve at the festival scheduled for Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Touchton Park and the garden club, according to a news release.

Monarch butterflies are a welcome visitor to home gardens. Here, one emerges from its chrysalis (File)

The Dade City Monarch Project was created as a community effort to support the city’s designation as a Monarch City USA and is celebrated at the annual October festival to engage the public through environmental awareness and conservation efforts.

“It has always been our vision to include youth as a key component of our educational efforts,” said Joan Hepscher, chair of the 2024 festival, in the release. “Through a generous grant from the Community Foundation Tampa Bay to support the festival, we are able to offer Monarch Marvels as an opportunity for our youth to learn the plight of the monarch, recognize the importance of Dade City’s designation as a Monarch City USA, identify strategies to increase public awareness, and bring the message to the public at this year’s festival.”

A sign at Touchton Park, the site of the Monarch Butterfly Festival, shows Dade City’s designation as a Monarch City USA (File)

The workshops will take place Sept. 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Sept. 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Sept. 28 at 1 p.m., at the Hugh Embry Library in Dade City.

Space is limited and registration for all three workshops is required. At the final workshop, participants will be recognized and will receive a certificate.

For more information, call the library at 352-567-3576.

 

Published on August 28, 2024.

Newcomer defeats veteran Pasco school board member

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Jessica Wright narrowly defeated longtime Pasco County School Board member Allison Crumbley in a race to represent District 4 during the Aug. 20 non-primary election.

(Element 5/Pexels)

School Board members don’t declare a political party affiliation when running for office. 

Wright received 29,184 votes, or 51%, while Crumbley garnered 28,110, or 49%. The term of Crumbley, who’s been a School Board member for 14 years, will end on Nov. 19. Wright will be sworn in on the same date and will begin her four-year term.

Here are the results of Pasco County’s Republican Primary election on Aug. 20:

Former state senator John Legg received 24,260 votes, or 76%, in his effort to become his party’s nominee for Pasco County superintendent of schools. His challenger, Michelle Mandarin, received 7,758 votes, or 24%. Legg will face off against Chris Dunning in the Nov. 5 general election. Dunning, who is running as a non-party candidate, currently is principal at Wendell Krinn Technical High School in New Port Richey. 

The winner of the general election will succeed Superintendent of Schools Kurt S. Browning, whose term will expire on Nov. 19. Browning, who has held the position for 12 years, decided to not seek reelection.

Lisa Yeager, who represents District 4 on the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BCC), received 20,478 votes, or 63%, while her two challengers, Gabriel Papadopoulos and Christina Fitzpatrick, received 6,311 votes, or 20%, and 5,512 votes, or 17%, respectively. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Yeager to the District 4 seat following the April 21 death of Gary Bradford, who passed away midway through his first term. Democrat Daniel Ackroyd-Isales will challenge Yeager in November. The winner of that election will serve the remaining two years of Bradford’s term.

Jack Mariano, who represents District 5 on the Pasco County BCC, received 23,486 votes, or 74%, while his challenger, Gina Finocchiaro, received 8,375 votes, or 26%. No-party candidate Thomas Celotto will challenge Mariano in the fall. Mariano is seeking his sixth, four-year term on the BCC.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-FL-12, received 59,904 votes, or 84%, compared to his challenger, Hank Dunlap, who garnered 11,172 votes, or 16%. He will face Democrat Rock Aboujaoude Jr. in the November election.

State Sen. Ed Hooper, who represents District 21, received 34,377 votes, or 85%, compared to the 6,023 votes, or 15%, received by his challenger, John Siamas. Hooper will face Democrat Doris Carroll on Nov. 5.

State Rep. Brad Yeager, who lives in New Port Richey and represents District 56, got 6,882 votes, or 79%, compared to the 1,782 votes, or 21%, his challenger, Kirk Phillips, received. Democrat William Vernon Pura, who lives in Elfers, will run against Yeager in November.

 

Published August 28, 2024.

Simple recipes that make school days a cinch

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(Family Features) – Resisting the weeknight urge to call for takeout or order delivery starts with an approachable at-home menu with recipes you can prep in an instant. Especially during back-to-school season when schedules are jam-packed with activities, easy meals and desserts you can rely on allow you and your loved ones to ease tension in the kitchen.

Simplicity is the key to putting dinner on the table in 30 minutes or less, and Taco Salad and Taco Mac and Cheese recipes offer mealtime solutions that make cooking duty a breeze. Make all that classroom effort worth it with a kid-friendly dessert you can prepare over the weekend and keep refrigerated for weeknight treats with No Bake Dragon Fruit Cheesecake Bars.

Make dinner happen in 30 minutes

(Courtesy of Family Features)

If you’re looking for a go-to meal for your hungry family, search no more. This Taco Salad calls only for pantry staples, so you can spice up busy evenings in just half an hour.

Visit Culinary.net to find more recipes.

Taco Salad

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”

Total time: 30 minutes

Servings: 6

1 pound ground beef
1 can (15 ounces) black beans
1 can (15 ounces) corn
2 cans (14 ounces each) diced tomatoes with chilies
1/2 cup half-and-half or milk
2 Tablespoons onion powder
2 Tablespoons garlic powder
2 Tablespoons mesquite seasoning
1 Tablespoon black pepper
Salt, to taste
1 lime, juice only
1 cup chopped cilantro
Romaine lettuce
2-3 cups shredded cheese
1 tub (16 ounces) sour cream
Crushed tortilla chips

In a pan over medium heat, brown beef until cooked through; drain. Add black beans and corn. Stir in tomatoes with juices and half-and-half. Add onion powder, garlic powder, mesquite seasoning and pepper. Season with salt, to taste. Bring to a simmer.

Add lime juice; stir. Sprinkle with cilantro.

Wash and chop lettuce. Place cheese and sour cream in bowls for toppings.

On plates, top crushed tortilla chips with meat sauce, lettuce, cheese and sour cream, as desired.

A sweet treat to make school days special

Sometimes a long day in the classroom and tough homework assignments call for a cool treat. Rewarding all that studying can be a cinch with a no bake cheesecake bar that lasts throughout the week.

No Bake Dragon Fruit Cheesecake Bars allow you to keep things cool in the kitchen without cranking up the oven. Plus, they’re made with C&H sugars that are perfect for adding a little something special to school days.

Find more back-to-school desserts at CHsugar.com.

(Courtesy of Family Features)

No Bake Dragon Fruit Cheesecake Bars

Prep time: 35 minutes

Rest time: 6 hours

Yield: 16 bars 

Crust:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 Tablespoons C&H light brown sugar
1 pinch salt 

Bars:

1 small fresh dragon fruit, peeled and cubed small
1/4 cup C&H granulated sugar
12 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups C&H powdered sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup plain Greek yogurt, full fat, at room temperature
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, cold

To make crust: Line 8-inch by 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Leave a 2-inch overhang of paper on both sides. In a medium bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, butter, brown sugar and salt until well combined. Pour mixture into the prepared pan and press into an even layer. Place in the freezer.

To make bars: In a small saucepan over medium heat, cook dragon fruit and granulated sugar until sugar is completely dissolved, dragon fruit is soft and mixture reduces in size, 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and cool completely. 

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until soft. Add powdered sugar and mix until fluffy. Scrape sides of bowl. Add vanilla and yogurt. Beat until combined.

In a separate bowl, beat heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Fold cream into cream cheese mixture. Pour half of the mixture into the prepared crust. Add 5 Tablespoons of dragon fruit mixture to the remaining cream cheese batter. Mix until well combined. Pour over plain cream cheese mixture. Place in the refrigerator to set at least 6 hours, or overnight.

Cut into 16 bars.

Spice up weeknights

Macaroni and cheese is a beloved comfort food that’s easy to make on busy weeknights. With just a few extra ingredients and steps, you can turn boxed mac and cheese into a filling dinner.

To make Taco Mac and Cheese, simply prepare your favorite boxed mac and cheese according to the package instructions, and stir fry the meat and vegetables together. (Hint: You can even chop vegetables the night before to make cooking the next day even easier.) Then add taco seasoning and combine for a new take on a classic dish.

Visit Culinary.net to find more recipes.

(Courtesy of Family Features)

Taco Mac and Cheese

1 box macaroni and cheese
1/4 cup milk
4 Tablespoons butter
1 pound ground turkey
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
1 orange bell pepper, diced
1 onion, diced
2 teaspoons taco seasoning

Prepare boxed mac and cheese with milk and butter according to package instructions.

In a skillet, brown ground turkey over medium heat. Add bell peppers and onion. Add taco seasoning.

Stir turkey mixture with mac and cheese to combine.

 

Published August 28, 2024.

Mosquito Control District considers expansion

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The Pasco County Mosquito Control District is in the planning stages of moving to a new and significantly larger headquarters and base of operations, according to Executive Director Adriane Rogers.

Those segments of the district have been located on a 10-acre site at 2308 Marathon Road in Odessa since 1987. The boundary has expanded twice since then and services have been provided to all of Pasco County since 2003, Rogers said.

From left: Pasco County Mosquito Control District pilot Brian Gentry, Aerial Operations Director Wayne Daniels and Executive Director Adriane Rogers stand by a helicopter that is the district’s seventh airborne asset (Courtesy of Maria Johnson)

The tremendous growth the county has experienced since 1987 is one of the reasons for the planned relocation to a 41.85-acre site on the west side of U.S. 41 just north of State Road 52 in central Pasco County, Rogers said. U.S. Census Bureau records indicate that Pasco County is one of the fastest growing counties in Florida.

“As the county is growing at an unprecedented rate, the district must grow our staff, fleet and technologies to keep up,” Rogers said. “A lot has changed at the district since 1987. We are busting at the seams.”

Nearly 50 people are employed at the district year-round and an additional 13 people work during the season when the greatest amount of mosquito control effort is required, according to Rogers.

There are only nine buildings at the current location in Odessa and those buildings are for various uses, including administration and laboratory, vehicle maintenance and repair, helicopter maintenance and storage, fleet storage, warehouse, and facilities maintenance.

As many as 14 buildings could be constructed at the new location that is north of the Talavera community, Rogers said.

The increased number of buildings will allow for ample fleet storage and buildings with diverse functions, such as administration or laboratory, to be in their own buildings with all assets related to that function under the same roof. This will increase the efficiency of the district’s operations, according to Rogers.

Plans call for all of the buildings constructed at the new location to be hardened structures designed to withstand hurricanes and other forms of inclement weather, Rogers said. This will protect all of the district’s assets.

“It’s vital for the district to be operational immediately following a storm event to reduce mosquito populations and decrease the potential for mosquito-borne disease transmission,” Rogers said. “Our number one goal is to protect public health.”

Only two of the buildings at the Odessa site — a warehouse and a hanger for a helicopter — are hardened to withstand strong winds, Rogers said.

Mosquito Control is seeking solicitations from general contractors so they may be prequalified before submitting bids to do work at the new location.

District leadership needs to know if potential bidders are able to construct the types of hardened structures and multi-use buildings that are planned for the new location. This means they must have prior experience in constructing such buildings, according to Rogers.

A site plan for the new location was submitted to Pasco County in December 2023. Permits to begin development have been under review since then by the county, Florida Department of Transportation, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and other agencies, according to Rogers.

Another necessary reason to move is that personnel will be able to provide services throughout Pasco County in a more effective and efficient manner, Rogers said.

It currently takes up to 1 1/2 hours to reach service sites in Dade City, Lacoochee or Zephyrhills and up to another 1 1/2 hours to return back to the headquarters in Odessa, Rogers said. This means some of the employees are spending up to three hours of their workday just commuting back and forth to reach the places where their services are needed, Rogers said.

The new location for the proposed campus is more centrally located in the county. This will result in a significant reduction in travel to allow quicker access to East Pasco so the district will be able to provide the same rapid, quality customer service to residents in the entire county, according to Rogers.

Once the permits are granted and the district selects a general contractor,  construction could take place over approximately one year. It is unknown at this time what the cost of construction will be and when the district will be able to relocate its headquarters to the new base of operations, Rogers said.

 

Published on August 28, 2024.

‘Brushing’ scam indicates serious problem for victims

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Free box loads of merchandise from Amazon or other companies right on your doorstep? What could be bad about getting the Santa treatment all year long?

(Kindel Media/Pexels)

While free merchandise might sound nice, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning consumers this recent scam has a scary downside, according to a news release.

This scam is called brushing, and it has recently been popping up nationwide. Suddenly, boxes of unordered (by the recipient) merchandise from Amazon or other online sellers begin arriving. There is no return address, or sometimes it just appears to come from Amazon or another retailer, and the receiver has yet to learn who ordered the items. The items are varied. For example, in one case, a humidifier, a hand warmer, a flashlight, a Bluetooth speaker and a computer vacuum cleaner arrived unordered. Often, the items received are lightweight and inexpensive to ship, such as ping pong balls, face masks or seeds from China.

Why would such merchandise be sent to you if you didn’t request it? The companies, usually foreign third-party sellers that are sending the items, are simply using your address they discovered online. They intend to make it appear that you wrote a glowing online review of their merchandise and that you are a verified buyer of that merchandise. They then post a fake, positive review to improve their products’ ratings, which means more sales. The payoff is highly profitable from their perspective.

In a recent BBB Scam Tracker Report, one consumer shared, “A mysterious package was delivered to my home from a person I do not know, without me ordering any such package. When I tried to look up the return address, the search returned “brushing scam” hits.”

Why it’s bad news for you

The fact that someone could have the items sent to you as if you purchased them indicates they have some of your personal information, such as your name, address and possibly phone number. Once the information is online, it could be used for numerous crooked enterprises.

The fake online review angle is only one way they benefit. By using the brushing scam, they also are increasing their sales numbers. After all, they aren’t purchasing the items since the payment goes right back to them. Increased sales numbers, even though padded with fake purchases, look good for the company and help lead to more sales.

Then there is the “porch pirate” angle. There are instances where thieves use other people’s mailing addresses and accounts, then watch for the delivery of the package so they can steal it from the door before the resident gets it.

What can you do?

  • Notify the retailer. Brushing and fake reviews are against Amazon’s policies, so contact Amazon Customer Service if this happens to you and the product appears to come from Amazon. They will investigate and take action against the bad actor. Amazon also takes security seriously and encourages customers to report fraudulent purchases or other security issues. If the package appears to come through another established business, go directly to their website to get their contact information. If you prefer to contact the business by phone, be cautious about searching for support phone numbers.
  • Attempt to identify the sender. If you can identify the sender of unordered packages, consider checking for potential false reviews in your name and ask for the reviews to be removed.
  • Check your account for recent orders. Some targets of brushing scams can be deluged with unordered packages, creating a serious problem. If this happens, consider whether to refuse package delivery at your home address and temporarily direct items that you did order to a package acceptance service.
  • Change your account passwords. This may be a sign that personal information has been compromised, and to improve account security, keep a close eye on credit reports and credit card bills.
  • You are allowed to keep the merchandise. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says you have a legal right to keep unordered merchandise.
  • Protect your identity. The BBB advises to take all necessary precautions to prevent identity theft. Be careful when entering personal information online and ensure you use a secure site.

 

Published August 28, 2024.

Trainor kicks off tour with Hollywood, Tampa dates

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It’s been 10 years since Meghan Trainor debuted on top of the charts with the single “All About That Bass.” (Lauren Dunn/Live Nation)

Meghan Trainor is hitting the road next month to promote her sixth full-length album, “Timeless.” Florida residents will be among the first to see the Grammy winner on stage, according to a news release.

This comes as Trainor announced an expansion of “Timeless” with a new Deluxe Edition. The expansion includes three new songs. 

“I’ve been saving these songs for a minute now,” Trainor said of her new music, in the release. “The deluxe album is the perfect way to get the recognition that they deserved. I can’t wait to sing them with everybody on the road next month!” Trainor will embark on her first tour in seven years, the Timeless Tour, which kicks off on Sept. 1 at the Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. 

She’ll also perform at the Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa on Sept. 2. 

“Lil Boo Thing” crooner Paul Russell and older brother Ryan Trainor are scheduled to accompany the singer on both dates. Natasha Bedingfield will join Trainor on some of the 26 shows as well.

Another approach considered to control invasive species

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The Pasco County Planning Commission found a proposed amendment to Pasco County’s Land Development Code (LDC) pertaining to controlling invasive species to be consistent with the Pasco County Comprehensive Plan during its Aug. 8 meeting in Dade City.

The proposed amendment to the LDC is one sentence that says: “Invasive species located within the area of the project proposed to be developed are required to be removed (and) ongoing maintenance to prevent the establishment of prohibited, invasive species is required.”

This recommended change to the LDC came after county staff withdrew from consideration a proposed new ordinance, which was several pages long, specifically addressing the control and eradication of invasive species. 

This occurred after the July 11 planning commission meeting in which answers were not available regarding how and by whom the proposed ordinance would be enforced if it was adopted.

Jennifer Seney, a Wesley Chapel resident and longtime environmental advocate, told planning commissioners on Aug. 8 she was disappointed that the original proposed ordinance had been withdrawn. Some neighboring counties, including Hillsborough, have ordinances specifically addressing invasive species, Seney said. 

The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) will hold its first reading of this proposed amendment to the LDC on Aug. 21, and it will be scheduled for possible adoption on Sept. 3. This is because the BCC has the final authority on whether to adopt the proposed amendment since the planning commission only acts in an advisory capacity regarding such matters.

The Pasco County Planning Commission recommended that all applications for car washes be conditional use requests, similar to those required for cell telephone towers. (Pascal Preti/Getty)

It was also recommended to the BCC that all applications for car washes should be considered as conditional use requests, similar to those required for cell telephone towers. 

This recommendation was made following a lengthy presentation and discussion regarding whether proposed amendments to an ordinance addressing car washes were consistent with the county’s Comprehensive Plan.

Their recommendation specifically stated that car wash conditional use requests should be required to meet design standards as currently presented by staff, and that a special set of conditions, similar to those used for cell towers, be created for car washes.   

Planning commission members agreed this would make it simpler for both the public and car wash applicants to understand what was going to be required for such applications to be approved. Also, county staff would be granted flexibility in determining what conditional use conditions would pertain to each car wash applicant. 

The BCC will hold its first reading of this proposed ordinance on Sept. 3 and it will be scheduled for possible adoption on Sept. 17.

In other business, planning commission members:

  • Recommended that the BCC approve with conditions a rezoning request made by Kokolakis West MPUD – SR 52 Limited Partnership and Jen Holdco LLC on approximately 177.48 acres located in central Pasco County. 

The property is currently zoned A-C Agricultural District and it’s being requested that the zoning be changed to a Master Planned Unit Development District (MPUD) to allow for the maximum development of 155 single-family detached dwelling units, 67 single-family attached dwelling units, 168,799-square-feet of Support Commercial, and 125,000-square-feet of Corporate Business Park/Target Industry/Light Industry and Associated Infrastructure. 

  • Recommended that the BCC approve with conditions a rezoning request made by Fletcher MPUD, et al, for approximately 100.6 acres near the Pilot Country Airport in north central Pasco County. The applicant wants to be allowed to develop 350 Multi-family Dwelling Units, 160 Town Home Dwelling Units, and 100,000-square-feet of Commercial and Associated Infrastructure there. 

The current zoning of the property is A-C Agricultural District and R-1MH Single-Family/Mobile Home District and the applicant wants it to be changed to a Master Planned Unit Development (MPUD). The Pilot Country Airport didn’t oppose the request that the BCC will consider at its Aug 21 meeting in New Port Richey.

  • Continued a decision until Oct. 17 on whether a special exception and a zoning change requested by Lakeshore Blvd LLC should be recommended for approval by the BCC. 

The applicant wants to be allowed to use approximately 3.62 acres of property located at 13939 Lakeshore Blvd., in Hudson, for freestanding commercial and recreational vehicle and boat storage purposes. The property is currently zoned PO-2 Professional Office and MF-2 Multifamily Medium Density District and it is requested that it be changed to C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District. The property is approximately 233 feet southwest of Fivay Road. 

The applicant would be required to repave the portion of Lakeshore Boulevard to where it connects with Fivay Road. A separate entrance would have to be incorporated into the project design, complete with a gate and a fire truck turn-around for emergency access. 

The possible expense of repaving the appropriate portion of Lakeshore that is necessary so it would meet county standards was one of the reasons for continuing a decision. This occurred after Lakeshore Blvd LLC’s representative indicated the applicant wanted to see if other people who would benefit from improvements would be willing to share the costs. Planning commission member Jon Moody said he didn’t think neighbors would be willing to chip in on the cost to repave that portion of the road.

Planning commission members also wondered why the property couldn’t be used instead for professional offices that could be occupied by medical doctors, due to its close proximity to Bayonet Point Hospital. 

Published August 21, 2024

Florida’s combined sales tax rate is mid-pack compared to other states

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(The Center Square) – According to data from a national tax policy group, Florida’s combined sales tax rate ranks 24th.

The Washington D.C.-based Tax Foundation ranked Florida as the 24th highest combined state/local sales tax rate at 7%. The state sales tax is 6% and the average county levy is 1.02%. Groceries and prescription medicines are exempt from sales tax. 

(PhotoAlto/James Hardy/Getty)

The Sunshine State is one of 38 states that allows local sales taxes and 45 out of the state’s 67 counties add one, with the lowest being Citrus County with a combined rate of 6.5%. The maximum local surcharge is 1.5%. 

According to data from the Florida Department of Revenue, sales tax revenues added up to $35.8 billion of the state’s $47.33 billion in total collections or 75.6%. 

Florida has lower sales tax rates than its neighboring states. Alabama is fifth highest with a combined rate of 7.06%. Georgia (19th) has a rate of 7.38%.

Regionally, only Mississippi (7.06% combined rate, 22nd) and South Carolina (7.5% for 19th) are lower than Florida’s rate.

Nationally, Louisiana was highest with a combined rate of 9.56%, followed by Tennessee a tick behind at 9.55%, Washington was fourth (9.38%) and rounding out the top five was Alabama (9.29%).

Alaska has the lowest combined sales, as cities levy an average of 1.82%, but the state doesn’t charge sales tax. Five states – Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon – don’t collect sales taxes. 

The Tax Foundation says sales taxes are responsible for 32% of state tax receipts and 13% of local tax collections, adding up to 24% of combined revenue.

Published August 21, 2024

Florida regulators to consider TECO rate hike

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(The Center Square) – Florida regulators are a step closer to coming to a final decision over a proposed rate hike by one of the Sunshine State’s largest electricity providers.

The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) held a prehearing conference on Aug. 8 on a petition filed by Tampa Electric Company (TECO) to increase its base rates for over 810,000 commercial, residential and industrial customers in Pinellas, Polk, Pasco and Hillsborough counties.

Tampa Electric Co smokestacks. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

If approved, the proposed rate hikes would take effect on Jan. 1, 2025 and will add $17.46 to a residential customer’s monthly bill if they use around 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity. In January 2026, the average monthly bill for 1,000 kWh will increase again from $153.90 to $160.73.

During the prehearing, the Florida Office of the Public Counsel’s Patty Christensen stated that the witnesses needed more time to summarize their testimonies and asked if they could have their time extended past five minutes.

“These are extensive, large, complicated testimonies that we would like to have at least sufficient time for witnesses to summarize and we’ve been able to do that in five minutes and it has not dragged the proceedings down,” Christensen said.

The final hearing on the rate increase will be held on Aug. 21 and Aug. 22. More than 30 witnesses will testify in front of the commission.

Duke Energy Florida had its final storm restoration recovery costs approved by the commission, totaling $431.4 million. According to a news release from PSC, the recovery costs will cover several tropical storms and hurricanes, including Ian and Nicole in 2022.

The commission previously approved an interim storm restoration recovery charge of $5.09 per customer using 1,000 kWh per month. Duke currently has over 2 million customers spread throughout a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida. This charge will continue until Dec. 2024.

The PSC also announced that it had approved demand side management goals for TECO, Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy Florida, the Orlando Utilities Commission, and the JEA utilities company in Jacksonville.

Demand Side Management (DSM) aims to manage consumer demand for energy while conserving it. It includes a series of activities and programs implemented by utilities and government agencies to ensure customers get the best rates possible. Energy conservation goals begin in 2025 and run through 2034. The last time DSM goals were approved was in 2019.

Published August 21, 2024