NEW PORT RICHEY – The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners adopted a budget of $2,249,943,417 for fiscal year 2024-25 during a Sept. 17 hearing.
The new fiscal year will begin Oct. 1.
The budget that was adopted is $13,005,811 less than the amount commissioners had considered during the first budget hearing held on Sept. 3 in Dade City.
Commissioners also adopted an aggregate millage rate of 9.8597 mills per $1,000 of assessed property value. This is an increase of 6.95% over the roll back rate.
The aggregate rate that was adopted is a decrease of .2963 mills from the rate of 10.156 mills that the board had considered on Sept. 3.
These decreases were possible because of reductions in the millage rates that were going to be charged to cover general fund expenses and to fund the newly established Road Rehabilitation Municipal Services Taxing Unit. County Administrator Mike Carballa had recommended both of these reductions following discussions with board members.
Another reason for a significant reduction in the budget was because a proposed Municipal Services Taxing Unit that would have funded capital maintenance on the county’s 37 parks wasn’t approved on Sept. 3. That Municipal Services Taxing Unit would have raised $8 million during 2025 if it had been approved.
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office will receive $174,524,315 during fiscal year 2024-25. This is a 15.6% increase over the sheriff’s office’s 2023-24 budget of $150 million.
Sheriff Chris Nocco had requested the additional funding in June so that 40 new deputies could be hired and trained. It will be possible for 50 new deputies to be hired through the sheriff’s office receiving 40% of the new property taxes the county receives annually because of its growth. Other funding sources for the hiring of the new deputies include the county providing an additional $4,137.702 from ad valorem revenue along with other money from Tax Incremental Financing money obtained from its public works department.
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office will now also be able to obtain an armored SWAT vehicle along with two armored vans for $725,000; upgrade its forensic unit resources for $650,000; have a pole barn built for $300,000 to provide shelter for vehicles and equipment; and $125,000 for the design of an armory for the department.
The budget for Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles will be $9,250,747, which is an increase of 11.6% for fiscal year 2024-25.
Property Appraiser Mike Wells’ office will receive $7,761,214, which is an increase of $501,370, or 6.9%. Part of that increase is needed to pay the salaries of two new employees who have been hired along with salary increases given to employees.
The office of Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley will receive $6,256,432, which is a decrease of $645,922, or 9.36%. This is because only one election – the general election on Nov. 5 – will be held during fiscal year 2024-25.
The budget for Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s office remains to be determined because information hasn’t been received yet from Florida’s Department of Revenue.
Commissioners limit building of car washes
In other business on Sept. 17, commissioners approved an ordinance changing the county’s Land Development Code to prohibit car washes being built in the Connected City near Wesley Chapel.
The development of new car washes will also be limited in the Villages of Pasadena Hills, which is a large-scale development planned for approximately 22,000 acres of eastern Pasco County
And the changes to the Land Development Code will also prohibit car washes from being built in future land uses that are reserved for employment generation.
These changes were made because of concerns commissioners had about car washes, which don’t usually produce many jobs, being built on prime locations of real estate throughout the county.
In the future, applications for the development of car washes will have to go through a request for a conditional use for the proposed location. Similar requests are currently required to be made by individuals or businesses desiring to place cell phone towers in certain locations.
In addition, commissioners:
- Adopted a resolution recognizing Jamie Dye for having worked as a deputy clerk for 30 years in the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office.
- Approved a rezoning request made by Residences at Rolling Hills Master Planned Unit Development on 9.87 acres on the southwest corner of the Little Road and the Denton Avenue intersection. The applicant wants to be allowed to build 132 multi-family units (apartments), 104 senior multi-family units (apartments), 3,600 square\ feet of medical offices and 3,000 square feet of retail on the property.
