The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Chris Nocco

Seeking to sweep away commercial blight

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For the first time Pasco County will enforce minimum standards for the upkeep of commercial buildings.

But owners who may need to repair their buildings will have until May 1 to get their property up to code.

Other provisions to cite and fine owners of “slum” buildings take effect immediately.

Pasco County commissioners on Oct. 20 unanimously approved an ordinance that mirrors one already in use to monitor and enforce standards for residential structures and properties.

The commercial ordinance, proposed by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, drew objections from several Land O’ Lakes business owners who said the new regulations would be unfair, and were an example of excessive government.

But during a public hearing, most speakers praised the effort to clean up commercial blight along the county’s major corridors including U.S. 19, U.S. 301 and U. S. 41.

“You’d think that people would clean up their own yards. The truth is they don’t,” said Greg Armstrong, representing of the West Pasco Board of Realtors. “Unfortunately everyone doesn’t do the right thing. Sometimes we have to prod them along. We have to remind people that we are all in this together.”

Appearance really does matter when encouraging economic development, said Hope Allen, executive director of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce.

“We also have these buildings in Wesley Chapel,” she said. “We are very much in support of this ordinance.”

Stew Gibbons, the incoming president of the Tampa Bay Builders Association, also backed the ordinance.

Moore met with residents on two occasions in the past two months to explain his reasons for pursuing the ordinance. The first time, he met with about 50 Land O’ Lakes business owners who strongly opposed the ordinance.

He found a friendlier crowd at a town hall meeting in September.

Moore said he listened to the criticisms, and requested county staff members to tweak the ordinance. For instance, owners won’t have to worry about code enforcement inspectors defining buildings that had too much peeling paint.

“It’s very hard to measure that so we took it off,” he said.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco supported the ordinance as a tool to raze abandoned buildings that are havens for criminal activities.

Nearly 600 service calls have been answered so far this year around the intersection of U.S. 19 and State Road 52 where there is an empty retail store, fast-food restaurant and a boarded up bank building. And, the Sheriff’s Office has responded to more than 200 calls from an area near U.S. 19 and Alternate U.S. 19, near a closed medical clinic, according to the law enforcement agency’s data.

But not everybody agrees with tougher restrictions.

Greg Conaty told commissioners he worries that the county doesn’t have the manpower to take on new regulations.

“I’m worried about the selective enforcement of it,” said Conaty, whose family owns Land O’ Lakes Recycling on U.S. 41, south of Ehren Cutoff. He said his business has been the focus of code enforcement in past disputes with another nearby business.

“I’m not sure we need more rules if we can’t enforce rules we already have on the books,” Conaty said. “I believe something should be done but it should be fair and across the board for everyone.”

Elizabeth Villanova, a 10-year Pasco County resident, was among a group of Land O’ Lakes business owners and residents who lobbied Moore for help in taking on commercial blight. She created a Facebook page for “Land O’ Lakes Beautification Efforts”, a grassroots campaign that has garnered about 570 signatures on a petition to clean up U.S. 41.

Property values can drop because of blighted buildings, she said.

“It’s been depressing to watch the complete degradation of (U.S.) 41 specifically. We desperately want this enforced on U.S. 41.”

Published October 28, 2015

Views exchanged on ending Pasco blight

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A proposed ordinance to tackle blight and enforce minimum standards for maintaining commercial buildings drew mostly favorable reviews at a town hall meeting.

But, some remain skeptical about what they see as more government bureaucracy.

Pasco County Commissioners are expected to vote on the proposal on Oct. 20, following a public hearing.

The issue has sparked considerable interest.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore talks with about 100 people at a town hall to discuss proposed regulations aimed at ending commercial blight in the county. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore talks with about 100 people at a town hall to discuss proposed regulations aimed at ending commercial blight in the county.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

About 100 people met at the Pasco County Utilities Administration Offices in Land O’ Lakes on Sept. 30 for a town hall meeting, hosted by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore.

Pasco County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder, Senior Assistant County Attorney Kristi Sims and Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco joined Moore at the town hall session.

Moore proposed the ordinance during discussions for the county’s fiscal 2016 budget. It is similar to one adopted by Hillsborough County and mirrors codes currently applied to residences.

The new regulations would focus on the major commercial corridors of U.S. 19, U.S. 301 and U.S. 41.

According to Moore, the lack of commercial standards is hurting property values and driving away investors who scout locations in Pasco.

“There’s a good chance they’ll turn their car around and go home,” said Moore. “It brings down surrounding property values. Tell me somebody who says it doesn’t, because they’re wrong.”

In August, Moore met with about 50 Land O’ Lakes residents and business owners. Many at that gathering characterized the ordinance as an example of government overreach.

Among the mostly friendly town hall crowd, some were still unhappy with Moore’s approach on curbing blight.

“Small businesses need a helping hand instead of being slapped around,” said Russell Adams of Russell Adams Realty Inc.

Casie Holloway of the family owned Holloway’s Farm Supply said there is no evidence that new regulations are needed. She said a code enforcement officer could show her only one report from July of blight in Land O’ Lakes, and that case was closed as unfounded.

“I understand the concerns, but if it’s not showing up in (county) logs, I question it,” she said. “The codes are already in place to make this work.”

County code currently defines a blighted structure as “extensively damaged by fire, flood, wind or other natural phenomenon.”

Demolitions can be ordered if the building poses a public safety risk. And, the county can place liens on properties to seek re-imbursement of demolition costs from property owners.

But, supporters say the proposed ordinance would provide stronger enforcement tools.

The ordinance would introduce citations and fines for failure to maintain commercial structures to public safety standards.

For example, regulations would require repairs to holes or defects to exterior walls and roofs, and keeping outside stairs safe and sturdy.

New Port Richey resident Hugh Townsend liked the idea of fines.

“When people get hit in the pocketbook, they conform,” he said.

The ordinance also would be a boost for law enforcement in pushing out squatters and drug dealers from derelict buildings, Nocco said.

If approved, the ordinance would allow a six-month grace period for property owners to bring their commercial buildings into compliance.

“This isn’t to nitpick somebody who doesn’t have a painted window,” said Kelly Miller, president of Colonial Hills Civic Association in New Port Richey. “This is the only way we are going to be able to start getting a handle on this problem.”

Published October 14, 2015

 

Speakers present their wish list to lawmakers

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Speaker after speaker stepped up to the podium to present their request to Pasco County’s state lawmakers.

They wanted funding to help a nonprofit.

They wanted lawmakers to put in a good word with state highway officials.

Or, they wanted their backing for a special cause.

About 100 people gathered on Sept. 29 in the gymnasium of Sunlake High School in Land O’ Lakes for a public forum, hosted by Pasco’s legislative delegation.

Sunlake High Band members played the National Anthem at the public forum hosted by Pasco County’s legislative delegation in the high school gymnasium. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Sunlake High Band members played the National Anthem at the public forum hosted by Pasco County’s legislative delegation in the high school gymnasium.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

State Representatives Amanda Murphy, Richard Corcoran and Danny Burgess, and State Senators John Legg and Wilton Simpson listened for nearly three hours, as about 60 representatives of nonprofits, counties and municipalities, civic groups and individual citizens talked about the needs in their communities.

The forum is an annual tradition held prior to the annual legislative session, which is scheduled to convene on Jan. 12, 2016.

Corcoran, a Republican from Land O’ Lakes, will hold the powerful position of Speaker of the House.

Nearly all of the speakers gave lawmakers packets of information detailing specific funding needs or particular policies they want the delegation members to support or reject.

Requests covered a broad range of topics from public safety and school construction, to voter registration and smoke-free beaches and parks.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco advocated for tougher laws to help clamp down on illegal sales of synthetic marijuana.

Current law makes no distinction between the sale of one packet of the illegal substance or 1,000 packets, he said.

“We’re not trying to go after the person with a substance problem,” the sheriff said. “What we’re trying to do is go after the dealer.”

Nocco also urged lawmakers to address the growing problem of terrorist threats made via social media including threats to “shoot up” a school or church.

“There is no law in effect where we can go after them,” Nocco said. But he added, “People make statements and words have meanings.”

Sunlake High School student Mykenzie Robertson lobbied for a state law to ban smoking at public beaches and parks. Robertson is active with Tobacco Free Partnership of Pasco County and the statewide Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT).

“Parks, to me, are a place for healthy recreation,” she said.

Robertson also joined with Sunlake High School student Ormond Derrick later to talk about the problem of substance abuse among young people.

Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley asked lawmakers to consider adding veteran’s registration cards and gun permits to the list of approved identification for voters.

Corley also advocated for at least some of a voter’s personal information to be shielded from public records laws.

Now, access is open “to anyone and everyone,” Corley said. He cited a case of a man in New Hampshire who used Pasco County voter registration data to contact people for business purposes.

A handful of voters de-registered as a result of for-profit businesses accessing their information, Corley said. “That’s sad,” he said. “I think you would agree.”

Protecting data also was on the agenda for Pasco County Clerk and Comptroller Paula O’Neil who talked about the budget challenges in keeping up with technology to allow access, but also protect public records.

“About 95 percent of civil filings are electronic,” she said. “And that will soon be 100 percent.”

Funding issues are facing Pasco County’s school district as it tries to keep up with the explosive growth of new subdivisions, said Pasco School Superintendent Kurt Browning.

New residential development, especially along the State Road 54 corridor through Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel, is pumping up school enrollments.

Sunlake High, for instance, was built for 1,800 students. But Browning said, “We exceeded that number. There are very few schools that don’t exceed what they were built for,” Browning said.

Oakstead Elementary School has 1,200 students in a school built for 762 students.

“Where do we put these kids?” Browning said. “We put them in portables. We cannot build schools fast enough.”

He made a pitch for lawmakers to approve a bill that would give local school boards the autonomy to increase existing property tax millage by half a mill. Board members would need to approve the increase by a super-majority or a unanimous vote, he said.

Pasco County’s Government Affairs Officer Ralph Lair presented lawmakers with a list of priority projects and issues for the coming year, including a state loan for widening State Road 56.

Another issue is funding for the Coast to Coast Connector Trail, which will link Florida’s west and east coasts from St. Petersburg to Titusville. The Florida Department of Transportation will decide which of two routes will be built for one of the trail’s segments. One route goes through northeast Pasco, while another would bypass Pasco.

Pasco officials hope to convince the state roads department to build both routes and create a loop.

“Just have that one on your radar,” Lair said.

Other speakers included Timothy Beard, president of the Pasco-Hernando State College. Help for a performing arts center was among his funding requests.

Brian Anderson advocated for veterans and discussed his nonprofit, Veterans Alternatives, which provides alternative therapies for veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorders.

Representatives for Pasco Fine Arts Council, Habitat for Humanity, AMIKids Pasco and the Good Samaritan Health Clinic of Pasco also brought their concerns and talked about their program successes.

Peggy Wood of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and Janice Howie of the Nature Coast Chapter of Florida Native Plant Society spoke about environmental issues.

Howie said her organization supported Amendment 1, a constitutional amendment approved by 75 percent of voters to use real estate taxes to purchase land for conservation. In the last legislature, only a fraction of the anticipated $700 million was budgeted for land purchases.

“There is an opportunity to do better this year,” said Howie who is conservation chairwoman.

Wood asked lawmakers to oppose a bill that would bypass local control and give the state sole authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing, often called “fracking,” which is a controversial method of oil drilling.

At least 15 counties in Florida have approved bans on fracking, Wood said.

Texas has passed a bill that bypasses local authority, Wood said. “Now Texas has fracking, whether they (local government) want it or not.”

Published October 7, 2015

Dade City joins Pasco’s 911 system

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911Dade City Police Chief Ray Velboom could see the need for better communications between his police officers and deputies with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, on a daily basis.

Each agency had 911 centers operating on different radio frequencies.

“We’re surrounded by the county. We interact with them every day,” said Velboom. But, a deputy who needed assistance just outside city limits might be sent backup from 10 miles away, when a Dade City police officer was a few blocks away.

Critical time can be lost and the safety of police officers jeopardized, Velboom said.

On Oct. 5, a consolidation of the Dade City 911 Center and Pasco County’s Public Safety Communications addressed that problem.

Two staff members from Dade City completed weeks of training with the new consolidated system and transferred to Pasco’s Emergency Operations Center in New Port Richey.

The consolidation had been under discussion for two years as a way to increase both public safety and efficiency.

“It just made sense,” Velboom said.

The consolidation also reduces duplication because Dade City police officers now will file police reports on the county’s system. Both agencies previously had separate records management systems.

“We’ll be sharing all the data,” said Velboom.

Dade City will pay the county about $90,000 a year.

Velboom will serve on a board of directors that will oversee emergency operations, including the hiring and firing of staff.

“We have some ownership of this,” he said.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said law enforcement agencies across the country are moving toward consolidation, in part due to recommendations that emerged after the 9/11 terrorists attacks.

“We have realized that public safety communications is critical for the safety of our citizens and first responders,” Nocco said.

Several months ago, the Pasco County Commission approved hiring of eight additional call takers for the county’s emergency operations.

Call takers answer 911 calls and relay information to dispatchers who use GPS tracking to pinpoint locations of patrol units for both Dade City and the county.

Pasco County has 15 administrative staff members and 82 operational members.

About 600,000 calls for service are answered each year.

The increasing volume of calls is complicated by the disappearance of landline phone service in favor of cellphones, Velboom said.

Under the old separate systems, a resident who called 911 in Dade City from a cellphone would reach the county’s emergency center in New Port Richey. That call would then be transferred to Dade City’s emergency center where information had to be repeated, and there was a chance of a dropped call.

“About 75 to 80 percent of 911 calls come in on cellphones,” Velboom said. “And cellphone calling is going to go up.”

Consolidation also has brought improvements regarding how calls are handled.

In years past, dispatchers were trained to handle one of three types of calls: police, fire or medical. Velboom said now dispatchers are cross-trained in all three protocols.

“One dispatcher can answer every call,” he said. “It makes it so much easier.”

Published October 7, 2015

Pasco bans cannabis growth and sale

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The Pasco Commission has placed a one-year moratorium on the production and distribution of cannabis.

The plant is the basis for “Charlotte’s web,” a low-strain of medical marijuana.

In a roll-call vote, commissioners approved the ban unanimously, without discussion.

The Florida Legislature approved the non-euphoric form of medical marijuana in 2014, but the state has yet to get the program operating.

cannabis rgbWithin the next three months, the Florida Health Department anticipates awarding five permits to businesses that will grow and distribute medical marijuana.

Several municipalities throughout the state have adopted moratoriums of varying lengths, similar to the one adopted by Pasco County commissioners.

During public comment, Chase Daniels, representing Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, told commissioners that the sheriff supports the moratorium.

The ordinance in part states that growing and dispensing medical marijuana “represents new land uses not previously studied in drafting the county’s current regulations.”

By the end of September, Pasco planning officials will ask commissioners to prioritize a list of zoning issues that need to be addressed, including those related to cannabis.

According to the ordinance, commissioners could consider prohibiting production and distribution of cannabis, or enacting additional standards to regulate cultivating and dispensing cannabis.

During public comment, Palm Harbor resident John Chase cited several recent studies looking at the effects of legalizing medical marijuana, including ones from the Tulane School of Public Health, Lancet Psychiatry, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“They all say there is nothing to fear from medical marijuana,” Chase said.

The studies’ findings, he said, found no increase in violent crime or property crime, and no increase in marijuana use by adolescents.

“Marijuana dispensary, I know that’s a loaded word,” Chase said. “I also know our decisions are made better when based on evidence, not based on opinion or belief.”

Medical marijuana is a matter that could reappear as a referendum on the 2016 ballot.

United for Care, a group backed by attorney John Morgan, announced on Sept. 1 that Supervisors of Elections had validated 74,000 signatures on its petition. That means the next step is a review by the Florida Supreme Court.

The constitutional amendment’s language is similar to one in 2014 that received more than 57 percent of the vote, but fell short of the 60 percent needed to change the state’s constitution.

Supporters still must provide more than 609,000 additional, validated signatures to get medical marijuana back on the ballot.

Published September 9, 2015

Businesses fight ‘cotton-pickin government’

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When he was running for office, Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore heard a recurring theme: Do something about the blight.

The county, like many other Tampa Bay communities, suffered from the recession, and voters told Moore they wanted something done about neglected buildings.

But a proposed ordinance that would set minimum standards for maintaining commercial buildings is stirring controversy in at least one community – Land O’ Lakes.

Mike Moore
Mike Moore

About 50 Land O’ Lakes’ business owners and residents met on Aug. 19 with Moore and Assistant County Attorney Kristi Sims to air out their concerns about what they see as government overreach.

“This just feels like more cotton-pickin government, and I’m tired of that,” said Russell Adams, owner of Russell Adams Realty Inc.

The ordinance came up during a recent workshop where Pasco County commissioners met publicly to discuss the 2016 fiscal year budget. A public hearing and a vote by commissioners on the ordinance will be scheduled in the future.

The ordinance is similar to one adopted in Hillsborough County nearly six years ago, and mirrors codes currently applied to residences. It also reflects the best-practice standards recommended by the International Property Maintenance Code.

County code currently defines a blighted structure and criteria for ordering an owner to tear it down unless repairs are done. Or, the county can tear down structures and place liens on properties.

What’s new about the proposed ordinance is that it introduces citations and fines for failure to maintain commercial structures to public safety standards. Examples include weather-tight windows and exterior doors, properly anchored awnings, and peeling or flaking paint. After 30 days, buildings with boarded up windows or doors must be repaired, or fines will be levied.

“Ninety percent of the proposed ordinance is safety-related,” said Sims. “Ten percent is aesthetics-related.”

Current code allows a maximum of $500 per violation plus costs. Jail time, not to exceed 60 days, also can be imposed, or both a fine and jail can be levied.

The process can be lengthy and includes warning notices prior to issuing citations. There also is an appeals process.

According to Moore, the ordinance is intended to fill in gaps in the county’s code enforcement toolbox.

Moore is pushing for additional money in the 2016 budget to hire more code enforcement officers. An initial suggestion of four new hires is now down to two, but an expanded staff would begin to address code enforcement issues along major corridors such as U.S. 41, U.S. 19 and possibly U.S. 301.

Fines imposed on property owners on these state-maintained roadways, however, would go to the state, not the county.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, who came to the meeting to give a crime update, said the ordinance could be an additional tool for his deputies in clearing abandoned buildings, which attract criminal activity. He cited U.S. 19 as an example.

“We’re constantly going back,” he said. “You arrest them, and somebody takes their spot. We need this tool to get the blighted areas in U.S. 19. It’s not a (U.S.) 41 issue. It’s a county ordinance.”

Moore also reassured those at the meeting that the measure would be countywide and not solely focused on Land O’ Lakes.

“Everybody’s business looks great to me,” he said.

Moore said area Realtors were among those who asked for assistance in ridding blight on the county’s major corridors including U.S. 41.

“I have people in the real estate business who have trouble selling their properties,” he said. “They think this (ordinance) will help.”

He also cited a petition maintained by the Land O’ Lakes Beautification Effort, which on Facebook gathered nearly 600 signatures. The petition, addressed to Moore and Pasco County Code Enforcement, seeks tree plantings and a cleanup of blight from the intersection of U.S. 41 and State Road 54 up to the community of Connerton.

The list on the group’s Facebook page includes Land O’ Lakes’ residents as well as a few from Lutz. Some on the list are “anonymous.”

The petition rankled many at the meeting. They said it was not representative of Land O’ Lakes residents or business owners. When asked, no one at the meeting raised a hand to show they had signed the petition.

People at the meeting were local residents and many were long-time business owners, said Casie Holloway of the family-owned Holloway’s Farm Supply. She organized the meeting.

“We are a tight community,” she said. “Many of us have been here forever. This road is steeped in history.”

Preserving history, and also holding on to their businesses, was a major concern. Many expressed fear that if a fire or hurricane destroyed their businesses, the county would hinder rebuilding, and impose current building codes.

That would either be too costly or impossible to meet, they said.

Maryann Bishop of Bishop Construction said she dealt with rebuilding issues after a fire “and went through this with the county for three years.”

Others also expressed dismay with similar county experiences.

Sims and Moore explained that those were building code issues unrelated to the proposed new code enforcement rules. But no one seemed swayed.

Some said they saw signs of rebirth along U.S. 41, citing the recent purchase of Land O’ Lakes Plaza by Circle K. The fuel and convenience store chain plans to build a new store.

“Land O’ Lakes Boulevard is coming back,” said Harry Wright, owner of Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que. The meeting took place under a tent on his property.

He said other developers in coming months could begin buying up vacant properties for redevelopment.

“Ya’ll (should) maybe look at taking it a little slower…I think we could naturally work out of it,” Wright said.

Published August 26, 2015

Higher property taxes appear likely in Pasco County

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Pasco County commissioners have agreed to advertise a tax hike that could fully pay for salary increases for Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco’s deputies.

The increased revenues might also pay for a few other items on a wish list suggested by commissioners, including new fire rescue vehicles, additional code enforcement officers, and more money for libraries.

But the increased tax rate will not become final until commissioners approve the approximately $1.3 billion budget in September, and they can always roll the proposed rate back.

However, commissioners, at the July 21 meeting in New Port Richey, had to approve a tentative millage rate that can be advertised in trim notices sent to property owners.

The vote came before a standing-room-only crowd.

The board has adopted rate of 9.4, which is about half a mill higher than the current rate of 8.9.

For a $150,000 house, with taxable value of $100,000, the increase would mean about $36 a year in additional property tax.

Between now and September there will be workshops and public hearings where commissioners might get an earful from unhappy taxpayers.

Or, they could be greeted with cheers from Nocco and others who say the pay increase is critical to public safety.

“It’s just hard for Republicans to raise taxes. We know we’re going to get hammered,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.  But she said, “I’m not here for a career. I’m here to do what’s best for the county. I’m willing. If we don’t invest in our county, how can we possibly expect anyone else to?”

The crowd packing the commission’s meeting room included deputies, first responders and their family members.

They made it clear, as they have at other commission meetings, that they will not be satisfied with anything less than a full funding of Sheriff Chris Nocco’s requested budget increase of $6.5 million.

Kathleen Stevenson, the wife of a Pasco County deputy, told commissioners she never knows each day if her husband will come home safely.

“I want to say what an impact you can make today by putting yourselves in our shoes,” she said. “How much value do they (deputies) have for you? If you think things are improving in this county, you have blinders on.”

The sheriff’s total budget would be about $104 million for 2016, if fully funded. The increase is largely for salary and benefits to jump-start a three-year plan to make Pasco competitive in hiring and retaining deputies. The increase also includes funds for the jail’s new camera security system and maintenance of the department’s helicopter unit.

The sheriff’s department lost 44 deputies last year, many of them choosing to take higher paying jobs in Tampa. Nocco said he expects to lose about 60 deputies by the end of the year.

Pasco ranks 55 out of all 67 counties in Florida in per capita funding for law enforcement, and dead last among Tampa Bay area counties including Pinellas, Hillsborough, Citrus and Hernando, according to data provided by the sheriff’s department. That data also shows the department’s current budget is the lowest among counties with similar or smaller populations.

For example, Pasco’s 2015 law enforcement budget of about $98 million is significantly lower than Pinellas’ budget of nearly $249 million, even though Pinellas has about 61,000 fewer residents.

“It pains me that political leaders in this county have not made public safety funding a priority that gets us out of last place,” said Gary Bradford, a retired Tampa police detective who is a member of the West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association. “I’m ashamed of it. We have to start. We have to start now.”

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano drew a round of applause when he suggested a higher millage rate than the one eventually adopted.

“We need to make a move,” he said. “We’ve got a chance for a giant leap in this area. I don’t think anyone here wants to be at the bottom of any pile.”

Mariano also championed an end to parking fees at county parks, saying it is time for the county to stop pushing off decisions from year to year.

County officials estimate the annual revenues from parking fees are about $341,000.

But Mariano said, “Our tax base is only going to grow. It’s going to get better.”

Commission chairman Ted Schrader took the opposite view.

“It’s not really going to get better,” Schrader said. “It’s going to get worse.”

Schrader asked Assistant County Administrator Heather Grimes to highlight the crisis that could confront county officials in the next years.

The problem, Grimes said, is that recurring revenues aren’t keeping pace with recurring expenses.

Ending parking fees would be a deal breaker for Schrader who said there was a fairness issue in ending those fees while also increasing the annual storm water fee by $10. He also said the county can’t afford, at least in 2016, to increase library funding to its 2008, pre-recession level.

One source of funding that could help offset or reduce a tax increase is a one-time payout of about $7.4 million from BP Oil. Pasco County commissioners recently agreed to accept the funds as settlement against the oil giant for damages related to the 2010 oil spill at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, off the shores of Louisiana.

The funds probably will be received within three months.

Five Gulf States, including Florida, sued BP for its losses, including tourist-related dollars. The state received more than $3.2 billion from more than $18.7 billion in total from BP. Louisiana received the largest settlement of about $6.8 million but Florida received the highest payout for its total economic losses, pegged at about $2 billion.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore suggested giving $2 million of the county’s share to fund the sheriff’s requested budget.

“That will get him one step closer to the volume of raises he needs to keep people here,” Moore said.

He also supported a budget that funds four additional code enforcement officers. “People are concerned about the image and appearance of the county,” he said. “What’s going to take care of that? Code enforcement.”

Commissioner Mike Wells restated his previous desire to give pay increases to every county employee, possibly with the BP settlement.

“It’s all about raises,” he said. “We have to take care of everybody.”

Published July 29, 2015

Pasco gushes with ideas for spending BP oil money

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Pasco County is set to receive $7.4 million as its share of an $18.7 billion federal and multi-state settlement with BP Oil for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The payout could be a partial answer to the budget woes facing Pasco County commissioners. They have a $1.3 billion proposed budget for 2016, but not enough money to fund all of the county’s needs.

There were plenty of ideas on how to spend the windfall during the commission’s July 14 meeting in Dade City.

Commissioners met in a closed-door session before approving the proposed settlement.

A portion of the settlement, which should arrive within three months, would go for attorneys’ fees.

Commissioners wasted no time in tossing out ideas on how to spend the money.

“Let me give you my ideas,” said Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

Her suggestions include providing about $3 million to the sheriff’s department and $1 million to parks and recreation. She also wants to spend money on water and sewer projects.

Those ideas came after commissioners spent a long day reviewing next year’s budget, which is set for final approval in September.

During their budget discussion, they heard pleas from Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco for a $6.5 million budget increase primarily to cover pay hikes to his deputies. As it stands now, the budget calls for covering only $2.7 million of Nocco’s request.

Nocco has repeatedly said the funds are critical in making Pasco competitive in salary and benefits with other counties.

Commissioner Mike Wells suggested the BP money could be used to give all county employees a pay raise.

“If it’s 5 percent, that’s great,” he said.

BP recently agreed to what is the largest environmental payout in U.S. history for penalties and natural resource damages. Nearly five years ago, an explosion on the offshore oilrig – Deepwater Horizon – killed 11 people and spewed millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf for months.

Florida will receive more than $3.2 billion as one of five Gulf States that sued BP. Louisiana received the largest amount at $6.8 billion. Other states were Mississippi, Alabama and Texas.

Florida still has pending lawsuits against Haliburton and Transocean.

Pasco is one of about 400 local governments that are included in the settlement agreement.

The city of Tampa agreed to accept $27.4 million in damages. Hillsborough County will receive about $28.5 million, and Pinellas about $9.5 million.

Chairman Ted Schrader suggested the money go into the county’s reserves, at least for a while.

“It’s one-time money,” he said. “I don’t think we should be spending it hastily.”

As commissioners ran down their wish lists, Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker drew a laugh when she said, “We don’t have it yet.”

Published July 22, 2015

Pasco’s budget approaches $1.3 billion

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Pasco County’s budget for fiscal year 2016 will be about $1.3 billion. But that outsized number won’t stretch far enough to meet all the county’s needs, including a pay hike requested by Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco.

Pasco County commissioners were scheduled to set a tentative millage rate, on July 21 — after our deadline for going to press.

However, the budget is still open for discussion and won’t be approved until September.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco might not get the money he requested for pay hikes. (File Photo)
Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco might not get the money he requested for pay hikes. (File Photo)

As it stands now, Nocco will get about $2.7 million of the $6.5 million increase he requested. His overall request of $104 million was about 6.7 percent higher than the budget approved by Pasco County commissioners last year.

The additional funds were meant to cover pay raises and benefits, as well as ongoing expenses for body cameras and helicopter maintenance.

According to Nocco, County Administrator Michele Baker’s proposed budget only provides enough money to give his employees a 1 percent pay boost.

But Baker said the budget proposal provides a 3 percent pay raise for all county employees, without raising the millage rate.

Nocco’s supporters are clearly not satisfied with the county administrator’s proposed budget.

On July 14, employees from the sheriff’s office and fire rescue packed the Dade City Courthouse meeting room as the commissioners received their first public briefing on the budget.

“We’re out here fighting for the sheriff’s budget,” said Sgt. Justin Ross, the department’s union representative.

According to data collected by the sheriff’s department, the starting pay for a Pasco County deputy is just under $40,000. With five years’ experience, pay rises to more than $42,000.

However, the average starting pay in surrounding counties is nearly $43,000. At the Tampa Police Department, a deputy would start at about $47,000. With five years’ experience, pay increases by nearly $10,000.

“You have a bunch of deputies out there unhappy,” said Ross. “They are looking to go elsewhere. Really, we need to start now. It’s imperative.”

Nocco told the commission members he expects to lose up to 60 deputies by the end of the year. That’s an increase over the 44 deputies who left last year.

To meet all of Nocco’s needs, the millage rate would have to be increased about a quarter percent over its current rate of 8.9, according to Assistant County Administrator Heather Grimes.

That equates to a tax bill increase of about $28.50 a year for a homeowner with a $150,000 house.

The total $1.3 billion budget is about $90 million more than the current budget. But, the operating budget of about $450 million is a decrease of just under 1 percent.

The county has had modest growth of about 4.5 percent. Property valuations rose by about $1 billion, translating to an additional $7.7 million in county coffers. But much of that is from new construction.

Existing homes are protected by the state’s Save Our Homes provision that pegs increases to the Consumer Price Index, which is less than 1 percent. The index periodically measures the prices for goods and services paid by households.

“Revenue is not going to recover at the same rate as property valuations,” said Baker.

The county could run out of its general fund reserves – currently about $8.5 million – within three years based on increasing expenses year to year. And, operating reserves of about $24 million would only cover about six weeks of expenses during a natural disaster such as a hurricane.

Baker said the county’s budget is focused on more efficiencies and eliminating waste.

“Money may not be there for a lot of things that we want to do,” she said.

Among highlights in the budget are $1.4 million for a one-time purchase of security cameras at the jail, and maintenance for the helicopter unit. Funds also are allocated for two pilot programs for an inmate work program and a unit that goes after unlicensed contractors.

An annual storm water fee to upgrade failing drainage systems will increase from $47 to $57.

The county will cover the costs of eliminating a $10 recreation fee for each child who plays in noncompetitive sports leagues.

Unless a tax hike is approved, vehicles for three fire stations and construction of a station on Overpass Road in the Watergrass subdivision in Wesley Chapel will remain unfunded. Money is available for those one-time expenditures, Baker said, but there are no funds for recurring personnel costs.

That didn’t sit well with Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey. “I’m a little unhappy,” she said. “Who made the decision?”

Baker took responsibility. “We just couldn’t get it done without making cuts somewhere else,” she said. “It was too big a nut to be funded.”

Published July 22, 2015

Pasco County growth puts strain on budget

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A tentative hike in storm water fees and a proposal to hire five additional K-9 deputies highlight growing demands on Pasco County’s budgets for 2016 and into the future.

At their June 9 meeting, Pasco County commissioners gave the go-ahead for Sheriff Chris Nocco to apply for a federal COPS grant that would pay 75 percent of the costs for five additional K-9 deputies.

The cost to the county for the deputies over three years would be about $757,000 in matching funds.

The application deadline is June 19, with grants announced in October. If awarded, the sheriff’s office expects no additional funding needed from the county’s 2016 fiscal year budget.

“We anticipate being able to absorb (the expense) in its entirety,” said Pasco Major Mel Eakley.

The sheriff’s office has current vacancies as well as funds from the Penny for Pasco program that could be applied in 2016 to cover salaries and equipment, Eakley told commissioners.

“I like the program. I think it’s a good program,” said Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano.

By 2019, however, the county’s budget would pick up personnel costs for the five deputies as a yearly recurring expense, fully funded by Pasco County taxpayers. A hike in the millage rate, which determines a homeowner’s property taxes, might be needed.

Another option would be to layoff the K-9 deputies hired through the grant.

A decision would be based on a “reassessment of what our budget looks like,” said Eakley.

Hiring additional K-9 deputies means the sheriff’s office can provide 24-hour coverage from this unit, he said. Currently, the drug and bomb-sniffing dogs and their handlers are scheduled only on the night shifts, he added.

“We think it’s a great return on our investment,” Eakley said.

Pasco County commissioners also agreed to boost storm water fees by nearly 21 percent from $47 to $57 a year.

That’s not the final word, however.

“It can always come down,” said Chairman Ted Schrader.

Pasco County commissioners had to settle on a maximum rate that will be published in the annual notice sent to area residents from the property appraiser’s office. The deadline for providing the rate is July 15.

The final public hearing on the rate is set for Sept. 2.

In response to a query about the county’s growth driving the need for more services and revenues, Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker said, “That’s a growth curve. Yes, it is.”

The current $47 annual fee per residence was set in 2007 with the anticipation of collecting about $10 million a year. Revenues since have been closer to $12 million but are insufficient for a budget that covers operation and maintenance and capital improvement projects. Reserve funds over the years have all but vanished.

At $57 a year, fees are expected to increase to about $14.7 million a year. The funds would be used for maintenance chores, such as cleaning out ditches and culverts.

Without more revenue, there would be delays in service, Baker said.

“People would be on the waiting list longer,” Baker said. “We get new calls for service every day.”

Published June 17, 2015