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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Starkey Ranch District Park

Pasco sets tentative tax rate

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Pasco County’s revenues grew, but not as much as had been projected — before COVID-19 flattened the economy.

Pasco County commissioners last week approved the proposed tentative millage rates recommended by County Administrator Dan Biles.

“We are recommending no change in the operating millage rate of 7.6076, or the fire service MSTU (municipal services taxing unit) millage rate of 1.8036,” Robert Goehig, the county’s budget director told the board during its July 14 public meeting.

“Many of the general obligation millage rates are slightly higher than they were in 2020 because in ‘’(fiscal year 2020) ’20, we were paying interest only, and in (fiscal year 2021) ’21, we’re paying interest and principal.”

The board’s approval of its tentative rates means they will be reported in the Truth in Millage (TRIM) notices mailed to property owners in August. The board can choose to lower the rates but cannot raise them, when it adopts the county budget.

The board also set the first public hearing on the county’s budget for Sept. 8 at 5:15 p.m., in the Historic Pasco Courthouse, at 37918 Meridian Ave., in Dade City.

Because of the ever-evolving threat of COVID-19, it is unclear at this time whether that meeting will be open for public attendance, or will be conducted in some virtual manner.

The county’s taxable assessed values did increase by 7.7% this year, compared to an increase of 9.3% last fiscal year.

Goehig noted that property owners may receive tax bills that are higher than they were this year, but that’s because that would be a property gained value, not because of a higher tax rate.

“Under the Save Our Homes protections, the (increase for) taxable assessed value of homesteaded properties is capped at 3% or the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less,” he said. Since the CPI is 2.3%, taxable values on homesteaded properties cannot increase by more than 2.3%, the budget director added.

Goehig also discussed some specific areas of the budget proposed for decreases and increases in the coming year.

“The  biggest change is the tourism development fund. The reason for that is because we are expecting — because of the pandemic — not as many folks staying in hotels, and so on.

“So, we’re expecting revenues to go down, so likewise the amount of revenue to go down about 20%,” he said.

Despite the reduction, the county isn’t expecting any layoffs in that division, Goehig said, noting: “Our crack tourism team is standing by. They’re ready to do the best they can with the money that’s available.”

The fire/rescue department is facing a 10% decrease, Goehig added.

He explained: “That’s because with the pandemic, there’s fewer people out there driving. There’s fewer accidents. So, that the revenues going to fire/rescue are not as high as we had anticipated. So, we’re not really able to move forward with some of the business plan initiatives that we had incorporated into the fire department at that time.”

More funding is expected, though, in some areas.

“The libraries are increasing by almost 9%. We have a new library coming online this summer. That’s reflected there,” the budget director said.

“Parks and recreation increasing by almost 7%. That’s Starkey Ranch District Park. We’re gradually taking over the management of that park, so as we do that, we’re taking on some additional costs for that park,” Goehig added.

The proposed budget calls for a 2% increase for county employers, but it appears that a 3% raise is more likely to happen — based on sentiments expressed by board members.

County Commissioner Mike Wells has been vocal about his support for a 3% raise. That’s what both the county’s constitutional officers are proposing, and what Gov. Ron DeSantis has approved for state workers.

Commissioner Ron Oakley also went on record for a 3% raise for employees.

Commission Chairman Mike Moore put it like this: “We want to make sure that we’re all in line, i.e., the constitutionals that fall under our budget, when we talked about what percentage they’re giving. We talked about what we’re going to do. We want to make sure everybody’s in line.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano said the county typically gets some money back from its constitutional officers, so the board can look at the issue once it has a better idea of how much additional revenue it will have.

Mariano suggested making a decision on the salary issue “a little bit down the road.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, however, voiced misgivings about providing a 3% raise.

“I think in today’s COVID time, 2% is a good raise,” Starkey said, adding she doesn’t know anything in the budget she wants to cut.

“I would be OK going with the 2% this year, and then maybe next year, catching back up when the economy is better,” Starkey said.

Published July 22, 2020

Alzheimer’s walk raises nearly $56,000

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More than 500 residents from Pasco County joined the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s at the Starkey Ranch District Park in Odessa, on Oct. 25.

Participants raised $55,784 to help pay for care, support and research programs of the Alzheimer’s Association. The event fell short of its goal of $85,000, but fundraising efforts continue through Dec. 20.

Hundreds of Pasco County residents took park in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s, in the fight to end the disease. (Courtesy of Alzheimer’s Association)

“Alzheimer’s is destroying our families, our finances and our future,” said Michelle Olson, Alzheimer’s Association development manager, in a release.

“It’s time to end it,” she added.

The moving opening ceremony featured several local families affected by the disease, as well as Maria Johnson, of the West Pasco Business Association; Daniel Paasch, director of strategic operations; U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis; and Margie Pagano, an Edward Jones financial advisor.

Doug Fresh, CEO of St. Mark’s Village and a participant for Team St. Mark’s, shared his thoughts on the walk.

“It was fabulous. The walk is important to St. Mark’s Village because of the people we serve. It’s important to work together with the Association to get some answers for this terrible disease,” Fresh said.

Currently, St. Mark’s is the top fundraising team, raising nearly $7,587. The team has been participating for about 10 years.

For information, visit ALZ.org, or call (800) 272-3900.

Pasco County’s budget tops $1.4 billion

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The Pasco County Commission has adopted a proposed budget topping $1.4 billion for fiscal year 2020.

The property tax rate did not change, but revenues collected by the county will go up because of an expanded county tax base due to new construction and property value increases.

Also, property owners will pay additional taxes to generate revenues needed to pay for four bond issues voters adopted to support a jail expansion, additional fire stations, park improvements and upgraded libraries.

The tax rates adopted by a 4-0, with Commission Chairman Ron Oakley absent, were:

  • Property tax: 7.6076 mills
  • Municipal fire service unit: 1.8036 mills
  • Jail (bond issue): 0.0277 mills
  • Fire rescue (bond issue): 0.0222 mills
  • Parks (bond issue): 0.0100 mills
  • Library (bond issue): 0.0096 mills

The aggregate millage rate is 9.3666 mills.

“The county realized a 9.3% increase in taxable assessed values over the past year,” said Robert Goehig, county budget director. Overall, the county’s budget is $1,465,713,041.

“Compared to the current fiscal year, the final general fund expenditure budget represents an increase of $44 million,” Goehig said.

This year’s budget includes a $20 million increase in the county’s reserves, the budget director said.

The budget also:

  • Fully funds the sheriff’s budget request
  • Includes a 6 percent wage increase for the board and constitutional officer employees
  • Includes $6.8 million for initiatives, including the restoration of library hours, an emergency generator replacement plan and other items.

Also, Goehig noted, there’s  $6.6 million for investments in infrastructure, such as the Starkey Ranch District Park baseball fields; two roller hockey rinks in partnership with the Tampa Bay Lightning; various information technology projects; and, the facilities master plan.

No transportation millage was levied last year and none was proposed this year.

The county’s Municipal Fire Service Unit Fund, which has a tax levy of 1.8036 mills, will generate an additional $4 million because of an increase in property values.

Those funds will be spent to support the negotiated firefighter wage increase and staffing for new fire stations.

No one spoke for or against the budget during the comment period of the public hearing.

Published October 2, 2019

AATL tops Land O’ Lakes in postseason tune-up

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Two of the state’s top softball players matched up for the final time against one another in high school uniforms when Academy at the Lakes hosted Land O’ Lakes in a recent non-district game at Starkey Ranch District Park.

Starting pitcher from the Academy at the Lakes, senior Lexi Kilfoyl, on the mound before the start of the game against Land O’ Lakes High School. (Christine Holtzman)

In the latest matchup between crosstown foes, the Wildcats and senior ace pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl bested the Gators and their senior star pitcher, Callie Turner, en route to a 10-2 victory on April 24.

Kilfoyl struck out 14 batters on her way to a one-hit complete game, allowing four walks and two unearned runs.

It marked a confidence-boosting performance for the 2018 Gatorade State Player of the Year and University of Alabama signee, who’s methodically battling back from a right shoulder ailment that’s plagued her since early March.

Land O’ Lakes High School starting pitcher, senior Callie Turner, winds up to throw a pitch in the first inning.

It also put the bow on a 13-7 regular season for the Class 2A defending state champs as they gear up for what is likely another lengthy postseason run.

Kilfoyl’s counterpart and fellow USA junior national team candidate didn’t fare as well, however.

Turner, the Class 6A Player of the Year, surrendered all 10 runs (seven earned) in six innings of action against the Wildcats’ balanced lineup. It was a rare off night for the University of Tennessee signee, who finished the regular season with a 1.76 earned run average and 158 strikeouts in 95.1 innings.

In spite of the late season defeat, the Gators, like Academy at the Lakes, are hoping for a deep playoff run since ending the regular season 20-5 overall and 9-1 in district play. Land O’ Lakes finished last season as the Class 6A state runner-up after falling to Plantation American Heritage in the state title game.

The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state softball championships begin May 8 and continue through May 24 for all classifications.

Published May 08, 2019

Academy at the Lakes’ athletic trainer Makenzie Brinker, right, examines the injuries of player Jessica Mott, who was hit by a pitch in the first inning.
Land O’ Lakes High School senior Shelby Westbrook up at bat in the third inning. Westbrook was walked to first.
Academy at the Lakes’ Coach Diane Stephenson gives a pep talk to batter Kacey Atkins during the second inning of the game.

Additional money sought for new library project

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Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey is pushing Pasco County to increase funding for a new library, which is part of a collaborative project between the county and Pasco County Schools.

The project is to be built in the Starkey Ranch development, located on the ranch formerly owned by Starkey’s family.

The project includes a kindergarten through eighth grade school expected to open in August of 2021, a public library and a community black box theater.

The idea is to share the facilities, allowing the school to use them when it needs them and the public to take advantage of them when the school doesn’t.

The new school will be built next to the new Starkey Ranch District Park, which is off the main entrance into the master-planned Starkey Ranch community, in Odessa.

The first phase of the district park was built through an agreement between the county and Wheelock Street Capital, the developers of Starkey Ranch. The 80-acre park, now open for use, includes a lighted Little League baseball/softball field; three lighted multipurpose fields for soccer, lacrosse and football; a concession stand with restrooms and an additional restroom building; four picnic pavilions surrounding an events lawn; a playground; a maintenance building and a trailhead to the community’s 20-mile trail system.

When the district park is complete, it will have five additional lighted ball fields, lighting and groomed turf for the current practice fields, two additional concession stands with restrooms, and a 1-mile trail around the park.

Commissioner Starkey is advocating for an additional $1 million for the library project to help it to become a cultural center for the community.

“You know that there is a library that is being built that is the first one of its kind, a co-located library with the school district and the county,” she said, during the commissioner comments portion of the County Commission’s Oct. 23 meeting.

“And, I have been working with our staff and the school board’s staff as we go through iterations of the project,” said Starkey, who previously served on the Pasco County School Board.

“I will tell you first, the school district has been fantastic to work with, and they have found a way to add more amenities to the project. They have pulled the library a little closer to the school, and they are putting some of their square footage back into the library, and there are funds over and above the $12 million that we have allotted for it, and it will help us to get an outdoor area that the community can use for outdoor events, which would include alcohol, too, if we wanted, near the theatre.

“But, where we are short is on the Maker Spaces,” Starkey said.

The current plan calls for having one Maker Space and switching equipment in and out for various uses, Starkey said. It makes more sense to have additional Maker Spaces, to provide options to do a variety of activities without having to constantly roll equipment in and out, she explained.

“In talking with the school district, that is in charge of building it, and getting the architect, (Pasco Schools Deputy Superintendent) Ray Gadd thought we needed one more million dollars in order to be able to build three Maker Spaces at what will be the Cultural Center and what I think will be the new model for these kinds of buildings in the county.

“I hope to get one over on the east side, and Ray (Gadd) is already looking at sites where the county and the school district can share again,” she said.

The idea of having multiple Maker Spaces makes it possible for a variety of activities to be going on at the same time, Starkey explained. For instance, in one area, people might be doing pottery, while in another, they could be making jewelry.

Starkey suggested the county earmark $1 million of the $2,881,000 that Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano returned to the county that morning.

“I would love to see you approve that (million-dollar appropriation) to help make this building a premiere building and the beginning of a model that we should replicate throughout the county,” she told her colleagues and County Administrator Dan Biles.

Biles reminded the board “right now the (returned) funds roll into the bottom line and go into the fund balance and our reserves.”

Biles also told the board he’d like to see what happens during the Nov. 6 election before considering Starkey’s proposed budget amendment.

Cathy Pearson, an assistant county administrator, also told board members that she recently took part in a visit to the Carrollwood Cultural Center, in Hillsborough County, to see how that operates.

During that trip, she said, she learned that the theater planned in the Starkey Ranch project was too small.

The theater plan calls for 203 seats, but it needs to be 250, Pearson said.

In addition to the money that Fasano returned to the county, Paula O’ Neil, the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller, told commissioners she would be returning $465,381.24, but she did request the county  consider providing a total of $100,000 to help four different agencies.

Published November 14, 2018

Pasco County to hold first Alzheimer’s walk

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When Jennifer Graff realized her mother was losing her independence, little did she know that she would become a full-time caregiver.

Graff’s mother, Rose, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2011, after a horrific car crash.

Since then, she has resided in several living facilities while gradually losing her memory.

On Oct. 20, attendees of Pasco County’s first Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be able to take part in the 3-mile journey and learn more about supporting the cause. (Courtesy of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Facebook page)

Graff will walk on behalf of her mother on Oct. 20 during Pasco County’s first Walk to End Alzheimer’s program.

The event will be held at Starkey Ranch District Park in Odessa, open to both the public and their pets.

“We want it to be as accessible as possible for everybody,” said Kaylie Male of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Florida Gulf Coast Chapter. “Whether or not you can afford to make a donation, you can still come out.”

Participants can register either individually or as a team, beginning at 8 a.m. Donations are welcome, but not required.

Everyone who is registered will receive a Promise Garden flower. The flowers will come in four colors – purple, blue, yellow and orange – each representing the participant’s relation to Alzheimer’s disease.

The Promise Garden Ceremony will be at 9 a.m., where everyone will get to display their flowers.

“It’s a really wonderful opportunity for people to bond,” Male said, noting the ceremony serves to unite strangers.

After that, there’s a 3-mile walk, which is expected to attract more than 300 walkers.

This will be Graff’s fourth walk. She said she generally heads to the front of the line so she can turn around to marvel at the number of those present.

“I’m so proud of the people standing around me and everyone trying to help find a cure,” she said.

Graff visits her mother on weekdays at a Tampa assisted living facility, helping to make sure her needs are adequately met.

“My mom is almost a completely different person from who she was,” Graff said reflecting on her mother’s transition.

Although she has witnessed the slow regression, she said she takes solace in knowing her mother is content and at peace with the world.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. More than 14,000 of those are Pasco residents.

“We really knew there was a need in the area,” said Male, on why the county was chosen for this year’s walk.

The event will provide education on the disease, advocacy opportunities, clinical studies enrollment and support programs.

The Edward Jones corporation is the 2018 National Presenting Sponsor for the Alzheimer’s Association. It has already pledged to raise $4 million for this year.

The company’s New Port Richey branch will accept ‘early bird’ donations on Oct. 18, as well as Wesley Chapel Nissan on Oct. 16.

Donations also can be made through the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter’s Facebook page or by using the Walk to End Alzheimer’s phone app.

To preregister before the event, visit Act.alz.org/pasco.

For additional information, contact Kaylie Male at (727) 578-2558 or .

Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Where: Starkey Ranch District Park, 11880 Lake Blanche Drive, Odessa
When: Oct. 20; registration at 8 a.m., and walk at 9 a.m.
Cost: Free
Details: The public is welcome to join Pasco County’s first Alzheimer’s walk to raise funds and awareness.
Info: Contact Kaylie Male at (727) 578-2558 or . Preregistration and donations can be made online at Act.alz.org/pasco.

Published October 17, 2018

Pulte Homes Opens New Models in Starkey Ranch

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If you’ve been looking to buy a new home in Starkey Ranch, April is the month you’ve been waiting for.

To celebrate its May 5 grand opening of Monroe Commons — Pulte’s newest community in Starkey Ranch — buyers will receive $4,000 in free quality appliances from Whirlpool for a refrigerator, washer and dryer.

Monroe Commons families will also qualify for $8,000 in Pulte Flex Cash, which can be used at the design center on home upgrades, or applied toward closing cost.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for families looking for the best value in Starkey Ranch,” said Kristen Woske, Pulte Homes’ sales consultant in Starkey. “Our models in Monroe Common are very affordable, beginning in the upper $200,000s for a 2,000-square-foot home. In fact, we offer some of the best home values in all of Starkey Ranch.”

Woske has been selling homes in Starkey Ranch since Pulte first moved into the community last May. In less than a year, she and her sales colleague, Angela Hobbs, have sold 96 homes in the Homestead Park area of Starkey, with only 14 home sites remaining. This success has lead Pulte to recently launch its second phase of 65 homes in Homestead Park.

“While, of course, people love Pulte’s family inspired floor plans and quality construction and finishes, we’ve been so successful in Homestead Park because our buyers fall in love with Starkey Ranch and all that it has to offer,” said Woske.

Starkey Ranch is a master-planned community of more than 2,400 acres located north of State Road 54 in Odessa. The community began its development three years ago, and currently has 450 homes and will eventually be a community of 3,000 homes. The community is known for the extensive preservation of wetlands, woods and wild prairie, and boasts a paved 15-mile trail system that will extend to 20 miles when it connects to the many nature trails in the adjacent Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve.

“When someone first comes to our sales center, one of the first questions they ask is whether all the natural wetlands and green space they just drove through will stay green,” said Woske. “And, when I tell them yes, plus show them on the map how much land will remain in its wild state, they are amazed and excited,” said Woske.

Pulte’s new Monroe Commons area is deep into Starkey Ranch and far from State Road 54. Homesites are either lakefront, face parkland or back onto conservation.

Saturday, April 21 is the grand opening of Pulte’s two furnished models in Monroe Commons — the 2,098-square-foot Clearview with its garage at the back of the home, and the 2,188 square-foot Sienna with the garage in the front. Both homes are beautifully decorated and open daily from 10 to 6 p.m., and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

Pulte Homes is offering six floor plans in Monroe Commons. Four have traditional, open floor plans like the Sienna, and two are designed with alley- load garages. All are two stories, and offer two to five bedrooms and two to three-and-a-half baths. The Harrison plan has the master bedroom on the first floor. Air-conditioned living areas are from 1,950 to 2,470 square feet, and base prices range from $269,990 to $304,990.

All Pulte homes in Monroe Commons include granite countertops, 42-inch cabinets, 8-foot interior doors, 17-inch ceramic tile floors, covered lanais, two-car garages and paver driveways. Many custom options are available, including quartz countertops, hardwood floors and upgraded porcelain tile.

Every Pulte home comes with ultra-fast fiber-to-the-home connectivity, the diamond-rated Environments for Living energy efficiency package and a 10-year transferrable limited structural warranty.

Only Pulte Homes is building in Monroe Commons. Its 95 homesites are close to the Starkey Ranch District Park, with its abundance of recreation facilities, as well as Starkey’s unique Cunningham Park designed for small gatherings and community gardening, and the recently opened Beckett Pond for launching canoes and kayaks.

The Starkey Ranch District Park is Pasco County’s newest recreational complex and includes a lighted Little League baseball/softball field; three lighted multipurpose fields for soccer, lacrosse and football, six multipurpose practice fields, playground and picnic pavilions.

“Pulte has many communities in the Tampa region, but Starkey is the one getting the most attention because of our success at Homestead Park and the new floor plans we are introducing at Monroe Commons,” said Woske. “There is so much excitement at Starkey Ranch; it’s just contagious.”

Woske said over half of Pulte’s buyers in Starkey Ranch are moving up from other Pasco communities. “We have a lot of families from Land O’ Lakes, Lutz and Wesley Chapel coming here to see why Starkey Ranch is exploding,” she said.

Most of Pulte’s homebuyers are families with school-age children, although there are also many young, first-time buyers and retirees looking to down size.

For more information about Pulte Home’s communities in Starkey Ranch, please call (877) 752-0173, or stop by its sales office at 13047 Payton St. You can also visit Pulte.com/Starkey Ranch.

 

Monroe Commons Models

Clearview
Open gathering and dining spaces
Extended covered lanai
Alley-load – covered walkway
3-5 bedrooms
2-3 baths
2-car garage
2,098 A/C square feet
$278,990

Sienna
Open-concept living
First floor flex room
3 bedrooms
2.5 bathrooms
2,188 A/C square feet
$294,990 

Published March 28, 2018

Pasco ‘super park’ land near Dade City

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Pasco County recently purchased 155 acres for a proposed “super park” at The Villages of Pasadena, off Prospect Road and Highland Boulevard, near Dade City.

The acreage is conservation land that is the second purchase of a three-phase acquisition process. When complete, the county will have nearly 320 acres for the super park.

Because the 155 acres will remain natural and be used for passive recreation, the $4.6 million purchase price will come from the Penny for Pasco funds set aside for the county’s Environmental Land Acquisition and Management Program (ELAMP).

However, the sale will be treated as a loan, with repayment in the form of park impact fees. Those fees will be collected from new residential and commercial development at The Villages master-planned community.

Also, new development within the Connected City corridor, including the master-planned community of Epperson, will contribute their share of park impact fees for the super park. A road is expected to link Connected City to the super park in The Villages.

“The county is still in the acquisition phase,” said Keith Wiley, the county’s parks, recreation and natural resources director.

Capital funds to design and build the park aren’t available as yet. The final land purchase of about 95 acres also must be negotiated, and approved by the Pasco County commissioners.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” Wiley said.

The inclusion of Connected City as a contributor of impact fees for the park should help in getting the needed funds, he added.

Pasco County commissioners approved the newest purchase in December. The sale closed in January.

When the park is built, it will essentially result in two parks that are the size of district parks, next to each other.

One will be kept in its natural state for passive recreation, such as walking trails and kayaking. It will provide access to Buddy Lake.

The other will be an “active” park with ball fields, playgrounds, trails and other amenities.

There also are plans to co-locate the active park area with a planned elementary school. Co-location is a trend, as the county seeks to make the most efficient use of funds.

The recently opened Starkey Ranch District Park, at Starkey Ranch, is an example of co-location. It was built in partnership with Pasco County Schools, which plans to build an elementary and middle school at the site.

Published March 14, 2018

Regional planning council honors Pasco County

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Pasco County took home several awards March 31 during the Future of the Region Awards in St. Petersburg.

That included two major regional awards — The One Bay Award, and The Charles A. McIntosh Jr. Award for Distinction. Both were handed out at the Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park for the county’s work on the west market redevelopment and infill plan for The Harbors.

The McIntosh award recognizes outstanding achievement in a community by saluting Charles McIntosh, a man who dedicated much of his time to improving the quality of life in the Tampa Bay region.

One Bay has drawn upon thousands of residents to create a shared regional vision to plan where future population and employment growth should occur based upon responsible land use, mobility, economic and environmental sustainability.

Also winning an award was former Pasco County Commissioner Anne Hildebrand, who earned the Herman W. Goldner Award for Regional Leadership. This award is given to someone who exemplifies the spirit of regional cooperation, dedication to her community, and notable achievement in encouraging future vision.

The award is named after former St. Petersburg mayor and planning council founder Herman Goldner.

The county also won several other awards, which included:

• Second place and honorable mention in the community service category for The Beth Dillinger Foundation and the Hacienda Hotel community cleanup project through New Port Richey.

• Second place in the cultural, sports and recreation category for Starkey Ranch District Park.

• Second place in development and infrastructure for the Tri-County Trail Connection Study that linked the Pinellas trails to those of Starkey and Suncoast.

• An honorable mention in the “Going Green” category for New Port Richey’s urban agricultural program.

Starkey Ranch park moves forward while others still struggle

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With 18 sports fields, eight total courts for basketball and tennis, more than a mile of trails, and a library, Starkey Ranch District Park is aiming to become a centralized recreational location for the entire county.

Developers of the Starkey Ranch District Park showed the proposed layout of its massive recreational offerings within the community just off State Road 54 past Trinity. The first phase of the district park is expected to open in 2015, with the county expected to take over the full estimated $285,000 in maintenance and operations costs a decade from now. (Image courtesy of Pasco County Commission)
Developers of the Starkey Ranch District Park showed the proposed layout of its massive recreational offerings within the community just off State Road 54 past Trinity. The first phase of the district park is expected to open in 2015, with the county expected to take over the full estimated $285,000 in maintenance and operations costs a decade from now. (Image courtesy of Pasco County Commission)

And while Pasco County’s financial commitment is minimal compared to that of the school board and the private developer of the project just off State Road 54 past Trinity, commission chairman Jack Mariano wanted to make it clear that his approval comes with conditions: start fully funding the rest of the county parks.

“We cut libraries back tremendously, and cut parks back tremendously,” he said, adding that by the time Starkey Ranch District Park moves forward, “if we haven’t addressed getting rid of the park fees and putting more money back into the parks, I am not going to be comfortable moving forward.”

The problem, Mariano said, is that the county already is struggling to maintain the recreation areas it already has. Adding the Starkey Ranch project could make it even more difficult for the county, which is already charging $2 parking fees for those who visit various parks in the county. Those fees were designed to stave off further funding cuts from parks following a fall in overall tax revenue after the housing market collapse.

If the fees were still in place by the time parts of Starkey Ranch opened up, visitors also would pay the parking fee there, county administrator Michele Baker said.

“We cut back parks over 30 percent, and we’re going to add another liability for more parks and libraries,” Mariano said.

Starkey Ranch, however, is planned to become much less of a liability. The county would not be responsible for taking over part of the maintenance fees until 2017 when it would take on 15 percent of the costs — estimated at $42,700. The county wouldn’t fully take over maintenance of the park until 2023, where it’s estimated to cost just under $285,000.

By then, the existence of the park should spark more residential growth in and around Starkey Ranch, and those additional taxpaying rooftops should more than offset the costs incurred by the county, Baker said.

“The developer has stepped forward and he is taking the risk, eating that operation cost, but bringing that quality,” Baker said. “They are stimulating growth in the area, and stimulating property value.”

Pasco County Schools will work directly with the developer on most of the district park project, funding its share, and even providing a small loan to the county to help it fund its contribution.

The first phase of the project would include five baseball and softball fields, six multi-purpose fields, two concession stands, a pavilion with picnic tables, a playground, a maintenance building and just a little less than a mile of trails. The price tag to build that portion is $9 million.

The second phase would be built when the $1.9 million in funds become available, and will include three more large multi-purpose fields, an additional playground and concession stand, and nearly 2,000 feet more of trails.

The first phase is expected to open in 2015, carrying an annual operating and maintenance cost of $285,000, which will be fully paid for by the developer over the first two years, before the county responsibility is phased in.

The overall project will include a lot more, as well. With the plans to build a three-story elementary and middle school near the project, the developer and the school district also are planning a 20,000-square-foot library, a 6,000-square-foot “black box” theater, a gymnasium, four tennis and four basketball courts, and a track among other amenities.

The county and school district also have the chance to generate revenue from the park from things like ticket surcharges, rent from private users, facility fees, advertising, and even naming rights.

Paying to name something in the park is an experimental concept the county and school board are trying, although no one can buy the rights to name the entire district park or the school. Under the program, the school district would bid out such an offering, and it would need the county’s approval.

Any name that is chosen would have to contain the phrase “at Starkey Ranch” at the end. Among the examples the county provided were “Raymond James Theatre at Starkey Ranch” or “Coastal Caisson Field at Starkey Ranch.”

Naming rights for major facilities, like Raymond James Stadium in Tampa and Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg generate millions of dollars in revenue. However, naming shared-use facilities at Starkey Park is expected to go for much less.

The commission green-lit the project unanimously. Commissioner Kathryn Starkey abstained, citing a conflict of interest.