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Mike Sherman

Dade City approves budget, with some qualms

September 18, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

Dade City Commissioners adopted the city’s tentative budget for next fiscal year, but not without some disagreement.

A first reading ordinance of the $19,296,935 budget passed by a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Nicole Deese Newlon casting the lone dissenting vote during a Sept. 10 meeting.

The 2019-2020 budget is based on an approved 7.14 millage rate.

Newlon took umbrage with multiple funding issues, including the city using $150,000 in reserves to float its operating budget.

The Dade City Commission approved a first reading of its tentative budget for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. The $19,296,935 budget is based on a 7.14 millage rate. (Kevin Weiss)

“Effectively, to me, it’s like taking money out of my savings account to float my monthly expenses at my house,” she said, “so that to me means we are overextended.”

Newlon added it’s even more concerning with the city having “very large expenses” upcoming through its five-year Capital Improvements Program plan and proposed projects like a downtown splash park/bike hub, Morningside Drive extension and so on.

“We’re spending too much. That’s my opinion,” she said.

Newlon also took issue with certain aspects of funding for the city’s community and economic development department.

She disagreed with a $106,000 total salary benefits package for an economic development/CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) director position and creating a second city planner position.

Newlon argued the economic development/CRA director position “is effectively $7,000 to $9,000 more than the last person that was doing that job was making.”

Dade City Senior Planner Melanie Romagnoli is expected to take over the expanded CRA role, which has been vacant since Mike Sherman left the city in July. Romagnoli previously spent nearly a decade as a program administrator for the Pasco County Office of Economic Growth.

Said Newlon: “I don’t think that person should make more for doing what I think is less work because they now have another person working under them, and the other position that was under them is being transitioned into a much bigger position.”

Newlon also questioned $60,000 for advertising, special projects promotional activities, and $75,000 to rehabilitate the old police department building on Pasco Avenue.

Other commissioners, however, stressed the need for boosting the city’s economic development efforts for next fiscal year by any necessary means — and capitalizing on surrounding residential and commercial growth.

Commissioner Scott Black put it like this: “The economy as it is now, while it is booming, we need to have our staff in place so that we can allow some development to happen. If they’re being hamstrung because there’s not enough hours in the day and not enough hands available, then we’re not going to be well served.”

Black also said of the budget: “It’s not an enviable position to be in, but we have to be positioning ourselves to do these things.”

Commissioner Jim Shive agreed: “In order to move this city forward, we’ve got to grow and get some things on the table.”

Mayor Camille Hernandez added she’s “expecting big things” from an enlarged economic development/CRA team.

Said Hernandez: “We see the houses starting to build, we see businesses start to come and we’re not going to be able to continue that unless we have the expertise and the knowledge of that kind of input into our city.”

One reason for the city’s tight budget constraints this year: commissioners in July voted to set the tentative millage rate at 7.14 rather than a rolled rollback rate of 7.3297 recommended by city staffers.

Commissioners opted not to go with the higher property tax rate, asserting residents have already seen increases in water and sewer rates, and a stormwater fee assessment.

At 7.14 mills, ad valorem tax revenues in the city’s general fund decrease by $40,850 for the 2019-2020 fiscal year, according to Dade City Manager Leslie Porter. The rollback rate would have resulted in a $50,000 swing and thus increased ad valorem revenues in the general fund by about $10,000.

The mayor noted it’s been one of the more challenging budget years she can remember.

“It has been extremely tough,” Hernandez said. “I think in all the years I’ve been here this is probably one of the hardest that I have ever seen and trying to respect our community and keep the millage the same.”

Published September 18, 2019

Workshop focuses on East Pasco

April 10, 2019 By Brian Fernandes

Pasco County Commissioners met in a workshop session with local municipal leaders on the afternoon of April 2 to discuss a number of projects that are planned or under discussion in East Pasco County.

Projects that were discussed included:

  • A roundabout at the intersection of State Road 52, College Avenue and Pompanic Street
  • An extension of Morningside Drive in Dade City
  • A drainage fix in downtown Dade City
  • The extension of State Road 56 to Chancey Road
  • The widening of County Road 54, from U.S. 301 to 23rd Street

Discussion regarding the City of San Antonio focused on an intersection, where State Road 52 meets College Avenue to the west and Pompanic Road to the north.

Pasco Board of Commissioners and municipal officials met on April 2 in a workshop setting to discuss a number of current and proposed projects in East Pasco County. (Brian Fernandes)

Efforts have been taken to address the San Antonio intersection, which has been a place of confusion for motorists and an area that has been prone to accidents.

Those problems persist despite the installation of stop and yield signs, and caution lights.

To address the continuing problem, the Metropolitan Planning Organization has suggested installing a roundabout at the intersection.

“Essentially, we’re at a stage where some design has been undertaken,” said John Villeneuve, MPO director. “This is something that will assist in facilitating safety and more maneuverability.”

While the project has been well-received by the board, no start date has been given.

Meanwhile a number of proposed or active Dade City projects were discussed.

One of those projects involves extending Morningside Drive, from U.S. 301 to Fort King Road.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez has advocated for the MPO to put the project on a list for funding.

An alignment study has been conducted on the development, but funding needs to be in place to proceed to the next phase.

The potential benefits of the connection are already recognized locally.

It would boost economic development and would provide direct access off U.S. 301 to AdventHealth Dade City, said Mike Sherman, city planner for Dade City.

Joseph DeBono, Dade City’s director of public works, discussed Dade City’s downtown drainage issues.

Dade City, he said,  “has been plagued for years with a major drainage issue.”

He told those gathered that a stormwater retrofit project is the solution.

The project involves installing a new sewer system of more than 2,400 linear feet with various street drains. The collected water would run underground heading east to the U.S. 98 bypass, eventually being dumped into Irvin Pond.

That project, which may be completed during the summer of 2020, is receiving funding from the city, the state and the Florida Department of Transportation.

In Zephyrhills, there’s a proposal to extend State Road 56 to Chancey Road.

Construction already is underway to connect State Road 56, from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wesley Chapel to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.

But, Zephyrhills officials are looking into the possibility of later extending the state road further east to Chancey Road.

Todd Vande Berg, director of planning for Zephyrhills, brought schematics to the workshop and talked about the link’s potential to encourage increased industrial manufacturing, add jobs and boost the local economy.

The planning director also provided an update on plans to County Road 54 from U.S. 301 to 23rd Street.

The city had planned to widen that stretch of the road to four lanes, but those plans were halted because of conflicts with the local school district and efforts to obtain right of way, Vande Berg said.

The present plan keeps the road at two lanes, but adds turn lanes and pedestrian improvements, the director added.

The joint workshop between county commissioners and municipal officials was held at Pasco-Hernando State College’s East Campus.

Published April 10, 2019

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05/23/2022 – Republican Club

The Central Pasco Republican Club will meet on May 23 at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. The guest speaker will be Pasco County School Board member Megan Harding, who will present a rundown on the state of education in Pasco County, and what the school board can and cannot do in today’s world. A social will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the meeting at 6:30 p.m. For information, call 813-996-3011. … [Read More...] about 05/23/2022 – Republican Club

05/26/2022 – Food distribution

Farm Share, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Pasco Sheriff Charities, the Pasco County NAACP, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay will partner for a free food distribution on May 26 starting at 9 a.m., at the Boys & Girls Club of Lacoochee, 38724 Mudcat Grant Blvd., in Dade City. Food will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. The event is a drive-thru, rain or shine. … [Read More...] about 05/26/2022 – Food distribution

05/28/2022 – Memorial Day Concert

The “Let’s Do Good Memorial Day Concert” is scheduled for May 28 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., to benefit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Tunnel to Towers provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children, and builds custom-designed smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. The foundation is committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and aiding the victims of major U.S. disasters. The event will include vendors, gifts, a Forget-Me-Not Garden, and more. Entertainment will be provided by Fred Chandler, Charles Goodwin, Cruz Er Mac, Mike Henderson, and Travis White. Special guests include Congressman Gus Bilirakis and State Sen. Danny Burgess. Rain date is Sept. 10. … [Read More...] about 05/28/2022 – Memorial Day Concert

05/28/2022 – Seafood Festival-CANCELLED

The North Tampa Bay Chamber’s Summer Seafood Festival is scheduled for May 28 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Tampa Premium Outlets, 2300 Grand Cypress Drive in Lutz, between the outlets and At Home. There will be seafood, crab races, a kids zone, live bands, craft beer, a local market, a Nautical Art Show, and a crab claw-eating contest. For information, call 727-674-1464. … [Read More...] about 05/28/2022 – Seafood Festival-CANCELLED

06/04/2022 – D-Day reenactment

The Zephyrhills Museum of Military History, 39444 South Ave., in Zephyrhills, will present “D-Day, Invasion of Normandy” on June 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be an opening ceremony at 11 a.m. The event will include skydivers, reenactors, World War II veterans, and WWII vehicles/aircraft on display. Visit zmmh.org/events, for additional information. … [Read More...] about 06/04/2022 – D-Day reenactment

06/11/2022 – Community cleanup

Save the date: A Dade City Community Cleanup is scheduled for June 11 from 8 a.m. to noon. The city will provide two garbage trucks and one roll-off to dispose of household waste. Residents will be able to drop off unwanted items at three locations. Volunteers also are needed and can register online at DadeCityFl.com. More information will be forthcoming. … [Read More...] about 06/11/2022 – Community cleanup

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