Pasco County Commissioners

Dade Oaks on way to new home, location

December 11, 2013 By Michael Hinman

From 14th Street in Dade City, it’s hard to imagine the site that has been home to Dade Oaks Apartments since 1977 was once a lakebed.

Yet, there are some parts of the property, maintained by the Pasco County Housing Authority, that drop as much as 55 feet, and flooding has been an issue there for decades.

A good portion of Dade Oaks Apartments remains empty after continuous flooding over the decades made some units uninhabitable. A new Dade Oaks further up on 14th Street could be under construction by next summer. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

That’s why when the time came to do something about the aging buildings, Pasco County decided to tear it all down and start from scratch — somewhere else.

Pasco County Commissioners has set into motion the final days for the 69-unit, single-level complex, eyeing a 12.8-acre site up the road.

“There has been flooding continually at this apartment complex, and HUD has continually threatened to take back all the vouchers there,” said George Romagnoli, the county community development manager.

Not that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development would have a lot of vouchers to take back. Flooding and other issues have created unsuitable living conditions there, and with it a high vacancy rate. That means people looking to get housing assistance help have even more limited options than they already had because of the state of Dade Oaks.

Commissioner Pat Mulieri said she’s seen flooding firsthand at the apartment complex.

“There were many times we had our mobile medical unit, and we had this great event with a pig roast, and then because of all the flooding, it had to be discontinued,” she said. “Flooding is a known factor there.”

Razing the complex has been on the table for more than a year, but putting plans and funding together to fix the situation has not been easy.

Now, however, a new Dade Oaks could rise through the Florida Housing Finance Corp. efforts to pick up federal funds. It will take $12 million to build a new complex to house 69 units, along with nearly $330,000 to purchase the new property.

Commissioners approved making a deposit of $13,000 through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership for the land that will allow the housing authority to complete its purchase by the end of February.

Commissioners also approved a local match to federal funds, pulling $1.25 million from its county Home funds as well as from Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2. HUD’s Home Investment Partnerships Program provides grants to states and localities (like cities and counties) that help buy, build or rehabilitate affordable housing. The program allocates $2 billion each year to states.

“It is true that this is a large portion of our budget,” Romagnoli said. “That’s 15 percent of our funds right now,” but because of the dilapidated condition of the complex, something needs to be done soon.

The new site, as proposed, would include some duplexes among its 69 units, and could be under construction as early as next summer, said Dianne Morris, executive director of the Pasco County Housing Authority.

Commissioners approved the measure unanimously, with Ted Schrader abstaining since he had a family member involved in the deal.

Public has chance to weigh in on taxes

September 4, 2013 By B.C. Manion

The public will have a chance to tell Pasco County commissioners what they think about a proposed property tax hike and a nickel-a-gallon gas tax at a public hearing on Sept. 10.

Commissioners are likely to get an earful.

The county’s proposed property tax rate is 7.49 mills, up from last year’s rate of 6.86 mills. Its proposed municipal fire rate is 1.71 mills, up from 1.54 mills last year.

Each mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of taxable value. That means the owner of a $100,000 house, assuming a $50,000 homestead exemption, would pay $33 a year more.

The 5-cent tax would affect anyone who buys gas in Pasco County.

Commission Chairman Ted Schrader and commissioners Pat Mulieri, Kathryn Starkey and Jack Mariano voted in favor of advertising the proposed tax rate in July. Commissioner Henry Wilson voted against it, and said recently that he was still trying to find places to cut the budget.

The proposed property tax hike has drawn criticism from taxpayers who think the county should cut its spending, as well as pleadings from people who don’t want commissioners to cut their programs.

Commissioners have also heard from opponents to the proposed gas tax hike.

Meanwhile, Sheriff Chris Nocco has not given up on his bid to seek more money in his budget. On Aug. 27, however, commissioners passed a resolution allowing a portion of the Penny for Pasco to be spent on unmarked detective cars and other vehicles for the Sheriff’s office. They took that action because the language included in the Penny for Pasco referenced marked cars, but did not specify unmarked cars could be purchased with the tax proceeds.

Commissioners are set to have their public hearing on the taxes at their 6:30 p.m. meeting on Sept. 10 at the Dade City Historic Courthouse, 37918 Meridian Ave. in Dade City.

The board will cast its final vote on the property tax rate at its 6:30 p.m. meeting on Sept. 24 at the government center in New Port Richey, 8731 Citizens Drive in New Port Richey.

Pasco motorists could pay a nickel more at the pump

August 28, 2013 By B.C. Manion

People living, working or traveling through Pasco County will pay 5 cents more per gallon of gasoline beginning Jan. 1, if a proposed tax hike is approved by the Pasco County Commission.

The increase will help the county do a better job of filling potholes, tending landscapes, grading dirt roads and maintaining the county’s roads, officials said.

Commissioners are expected to vote on the issue on Sept. 10. But two commissioners already have spoke in favor of a higher gas tax.

Filling up in Pasco County could be getting more expensive soon to help pay for road maintenance projects. (File photo)

Ted Schrader and Pat Mulieri supported a potential gas tax increase during a commission workshop last week. Schrader said county staff members made a solid case for it.

“This is not a ‘wants’ plan, it’s a ‘needs’ plan,” Schrader said.

“This is an extremely important issue,” Mulieri said. Additional funds are needed because Pasco is a different place than it used to be. “It’s not your grandfather’s Pasco.”

The county’s current gas tax is 7 cents a gallon and the proposed tax would take it to 12 cents a gallon, which is the maximum level.

Commissioner Henry Wilson asked if the county could set the tax so that it would automatically expire in 10 years. Such a tax might be more acceptable to some people if they knew it was only temporary, he said.

County Administrator Michele Baker said that was possible. But if commissioners do move forward with an increase, the county’s proposed budget — already under consideration by the commissioners — would need changes.

Either way, the county must find a way to address its needs, Baker said.

“Our infrastructure is aging and falling apart,” Baker said. “This is a national problem.”

As the federal and state governments grapple with finding ways to repair their roads and bridges, it is unlikely that the county will receive additional funding to address local needs, Baker said.

“If we want to improve the infrastructure in Pasco County, it’s on us,” she said.

Baker also noted there’s a direct link between the quality of the community’s infrastructure and its property values. It affects not only current property owners, but also affects the county’s ability to attract new businesses.

Schrader agreed. “People, when they come here to look — that’s what they’re looking for, is the appearance.”

“Curb appeal, literally,” added Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

The county has been waging a losing battle in its quest to maintain its roads and landscaping because of deep budget and staffing cuts, Baker said. The road and bridge department has lost a third of its budget since 2008, going from $8.9 million to $6.3 million. Its staff has been reduced from 90 employees down to 40, and at the same time, the county has added 240 lane-miles of new road.

“You have 50 less people to grade roads, mow right-of-way, do landscaping, fill potholes, put up signs, trim trees,” Schrader said.

Public Works director Mike Garrett told commissioners that the county’s response times for maintenance needs have lengthened because of staff and budget cuts. That

Situation, he said, will only grow worse without additional funds.

If the proposed increase is adopted, the 5-cent increase would generate $6 million the first year and $8.1 million per year thereafter. The first year is less because the tax would only be in effect for nine months of the fiscal year.