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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Pasco County Sheriff's Office

Tentative Pasco County budget of $2.262 billion is approved

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Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco is on track to receive more resources in terms of deputies, vehicles, and investigations for the next fiscal year. Here, he is seen working with youth from the 2024 class of Leadership Pasco. Photo courtesy of Leadership Pasco

DADE CITY – The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners adopted a tentative budget of $2,262,949,228 for fiscal year 2025 during a Sept. 3 hearing.

Commissioners also adopted a tentative aggregate millage rate of 10.156 mills per $1,000 of assessed property value.

This is an increase of 9.61% over the roll back rate.

A public hearing will be held Sept. 17 in New Port Richey after which both the budget and the millage rate will be officially adopted by the board. 

The new fiscal year will begin Oct. 1.

The amount of the budget and millage rate will have to be adjusted downward before they are presented to the commissioners for final adoption. 

This is 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 MSTU would have raised $8,000,000 during 2025 if it had been approved. The proposed millage rate of 0.714 that would have funded that MSTU won’t be included in the county’s final aggregate millage rate for 2025.

The MSTU required a unanimous vote of 5-0 since it was a new tax that would be levied on the county’s property owners. Commissioners Seth Weightman and Jack Mariano both said they favored funding for parks maintenance to be obtained from elsewhere within the county’s budget. Vice Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey said she favored the MSTU because she didn’t want the county’s parks to fall into disrepair like they had during a recession that had occurred in 2008.

Meanwhile, commissioners tentatively approved fully funding the budget for the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, which will receive $174,524,315 during fiscal year 2025.  This is a 15.6% increase over the sheriff’s office’s 2024 budget of $150,000,000. 

Sheriff Chris Nocco had requested the additional funds in June so that 40 additional deputies could be hired and trained. The amount his department will receive will enable 50 new deputies to be added to his staff. This has been made possible through the sheriff’s office receiving 40% of the new property taxes the county receives annually because of its growth. Also, an additional amount of $4,137.702 is being provided by the county from ad valorem revenue along with other money from tax incremental financing money obtained from its public works department.

The sheriff’s office’s budget will also enable it to obtain an armored Special Weapons and Tactics 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.

Budgets were also tentatively adopted for other constitutional officers, including those of:

  • Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, Esq., who is requesting $9,250,747, which is an increase of 11.6%; 
  • Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley, who is requesting $6,256,432, which is a decrease of $645,922, or 9.36%, because only one election – the general election on Nov. 5 – will be held during fiscal year 2025; 
  • Property Appraiser Mike Wells, who is requesting $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 budget for Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s office remains to be determined because information hasn’t been received yet from the Florida Department of Revenue.

In other business on Sept. 3, commissioners:

  • Continued until Oct. 8 making decisions on a couple of requests that had been made by CPA Fletcher. The applicant is seeking to have a change in the county’s comprehensive plan for and rezoning of approximately 100.8 acres of property located adjacent to Pilot Country Airport in the area of U.S. Highway 41 and Leland Avenue. The applicant would like for 160 townhomes, 350 multi-family apartments and 100,000-square-feet of commercial to be developed on the property. These requests were delayed because residents of the airport’s community told commissioners that they hadn’t been consulted regarding the proposed project.
  • Approved a State Housing Initiatives Partnership funding agreement between Pasco County and Port Richey Leased Housing Associates, III, LLLP in the amount of $3,000,000 for The Anchors at Gulf Harbors. The Anchors will be a newly constructed 388-unit apartment complex in New Port Richey that will provide critically needed affordable housing that will be income restricted and dedicated for the elderly.
  • Approved a required local match of $64,900 for the Ekos at Bayonet Point II project. This will enable the project’s developer to apply for full funding from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation for a multi-apartment community for elderly housing in Pasco County. The project, Phase II of their master-planned community located along the west side of Lakeshore Boulevard in Hudson, consists of 160 units dedicated to seniors at 70% and below of the area median income. 

Staying safe on the Internet

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The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PSO) recently shared some tips to help people stay safe while using the Internet.

(Stock photo)

Like protecting a home, digital security is essential to prevent online hacks and attacks, according to the PSO’s posting.

Here are the PSO’s suggestions:

Ensure firewalls are always turned on for computers.

Install antivirus software to prevent malicious software from attacking and embedding.

Install available updates and anti-spyware technology to ensure private information stays safe.

Be mindful of downloads and links.

Turn off computers when not in use.

Published February 14, 2024

Pasco has blazed a trail on combating human trafficking

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When the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking was created nearly a decade ago, it was forging into unchartered waters.

“We were the first commission established in the state of Florida,” Liana Dean, chairwoman of the commission said during the Pasco County Commission’s Jan. 9 meeting.

“We have been looked to for guidance, not only in the region, but around the state,” she said.

“I feel like we’ve really made an impact over the past decade,” she added.

The Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking is made up of individuals in the following sectors who are working together to combat human trafficking.

There’s a member of the county board; two representatives from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office; a representative from Pasco County Schools; a community/victim services advocate; a representative from the tourism/hospitality industry; a medical and/or behavioral health professional; a faith-based community member; an anti-human trafficking community advocate; a member from the business sector; a survivor of human trafficking; a professor/researcher from a local institution of higher learning; and a member-at-large, from any of the identified sectors.

Working to raise awareness, to educate
Over the last decade the local commission has trained close to 15,000 people both here and across Florida, helping them understand how to identify the signs of human trafficking and what to do when they do.

The commission has put together public awareness campaigns, which have achieved an estimated 6 million impressions, Dean said.

Its in-person events have attracted thousands of people, Dean said. 

“We were the first county in the state of Florida to get human trafficking curricula into all of Pasco County schools. That was huge, before the state legislature mandated it. We got calls from all over the state of Florida: ‘How did you all do that?’

“So, I feel that the things we’ve been able to accomplish have really positioned us as a leader in the state of Florida, when it comes to addressing human trafficking and preventing it,” she said.

The commission also has worked with a group of teen students who have created three public service announcements aimed at combating human trafficking.

“That is messaging that the kids put together. They were so concerned about messaging they were receiving on social media, the things that they were bombarded with, the attempts to recruit them, the attempts to groom them – that they wanted to address it,” she said.

The public service announcements are expected to air on television in coming months.

“We’re also educating RV Parks in Pasco County. We touched every RV Park and have given them education and information about human trafficking,” Dean said.

“So, that was a big initiative that we did last year. We partnered with GoPasco to put information on all of the buses in Pasco County, not just for the general public but to reach potential victims, as well.

“We worked with law enforcement, all five law enforcement agencies to get information out. We partnered with Fire Rescue to launch the same campaign.”

The group’s survivor representative, Laura Henderson, also addressed the board.

She briefed them on the local commission’s plans for this year.

“We plan to train all 3,300 county staff on human trafficking and provide them with a wallet-size card that outlines indicators and red flags, as well as how to report.

“County staff also will be provided with materials on how to seek help that they can give to potential victims they may encounter,” she said.

It also will promote the public service announcement prepared by Teens Battle Human Trafficking, which will air on television and will stream on social media.

The commission and a partner will host an event aimed at engaging business in the battle to end human trafficking.

It also will partner with Pasco Fire Rescue to create awareness materials. And, it will create a mailer that can be sent out to Pasco households.

The local commission also is partnering with the University of South Florida’s Advocacy Lab to further regional anti-trafficking efforts, as well as taking steps to address labor trafficking.

Human trafficking is a significant problem
In addition to hearing from representatives of the human trafficking commission, the county board also adopted a resolution that provides perspective on the scope of the problem.

The resolution declared the month of January as national slavery and human trafficking prevention month, and Jan. 11 as national human trafficking awareness day in Pasco.

The resolution defines human trafficking as “a crime against a person whereby, through exploitation, an individual is compelled to work or engage in a commercial sex act through force, fraud, or coercion, thereby being stripped of their rights and humanity.”

The resolution adds that “traffickers typically use multiple means to control their victims, including beatings, rape, isolation, forced drug/alcohol dependency, withholding of documentation, and psychological and emotional abuse.”

The resolution cites statistics from the International Labor Organization that “conservatively estimates that there are over 49.6 million victims of human trafficking worldwide, and that this crime is second only to the illegal drug trade in terms of the speed of its growth and the profits that it generates, as human beings can be sold repeatedly.”

The resolution also notes that human trafficking has been reported in all 50 states, with Florida consistently ranking third in the nation in both the number of calls made to the National Human Trafficking Hotline and the number of cases identified.

In Florida in 2021, there were 781 identified cases of trafficking involving 1,253 victims, with 151 being children, the resolution adds.

Pasco County Commissioner Gary Bradford, who worked in law enforcement, sponsored the resolution.

He said “the work the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking does toward educating not only individuals, but entire organizations, is hugely important.”

He added: “This month, I urge everyone on how to identify the signs of human trafficking and report potential illegal activity to local and state law enforcement.”

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles also offered her thoughts on the topic.

“This is something that my team sees every day, day in and day out,” she said.

She thanked the members on the commission on human trafficking for the work that they do.

“It is so critical and so important. 

“We’re going to help you put that word out, so we can help to put a stop to human trafficking,” the clerk said.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey added: “I want to thank you for all of the work you do, and the awareness you bring to human trafficking.

“I’m so proud of our county in being first in so many ways, on this topic.”

She also thanked Henderson, a survivor of human trafficking, for having the courage to step forward. 

The first-hand testimony resonates with listeners, Starkey said.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley, who sat on the human trafficking commission’s board for six years, thanked the members of that commission for its continuing work.

“A lot of people don’t know that you are nationally known for all of the good work you’ve done in the past, and you continue to do so,” Oakley said.

Common signs that may indicate human trafficking
Do they show signs of physical abuse, such as bruises in various stages of healing?
Are they able to speak with individuals alone?
Do they speak in a manner that appears to be scripted or rehearsed?
Do they appear to be monitored by another person?
re they disconnected from family, friends or community?
o they live in poor conditions?|
Can they freely leave where they live?
Do they lack personal possessions and identification documents?
If you suspect someone is a victim of human trafficking, call the National Trafficking Hotline at 800-373-7888.

Published January 17, 2024

Pasco County approves higher taxes for fire services

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a tax hike intended to reduce the county’s response time to fires and to improve the county’s ability to keep its firefighters from leaving for jobs with better pay in nearby counties.

Nobody got exactly what they wanted in the vote.

The current Fire Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) is 1.8 mills. The new rate will be 2.1225 mills.

Pasco County property owners will be paying higher taxes to improve pay for firefighters and to reduce response times for emergencies. (Mike Camunas)

One mill is equal to $1 of every $1,000 of taxable value.

At the first public hearing on the budget, County Administrator Mike Carballa recommended the Fire MSTU rate be increased from 1.8 mills to 2.3 mills.

He said the half-mill increase was based on a 10-year plan to keep the department solvent, improve pay for firefighters, provide manpower for new stations and cover costs for some additional initiatives.

Carballa’s initial recommendation encountered pushback from Commissioner Seth Weightman and resistance from the public.

At the first public hearing, Commission Chairman Jack Mariano recommended Carballa come back with an increase tied to a five-year plan for the department.

Carballa presented that plan at the second public hearing on Sept. 19, recommending a new millage rate of 2.159 mills for the Fire MSTU.

Weightman and the public again pushed back.

Weightman said he would not support a rate of more than 2.0 mills and made a motion to that effect. That motion died for a lack of a second.

Members of the public applauded Weightman for his efforts to hold the line on taxes and for being empathetic to their plight.

Speakers urged the board to raise impact fees — to force new growth to pay for its impacts.

They said the county needs to get help from other revenue sources.

They said the county — like its residents — should respond to inflation by tightening its belt.

While expressing support for firefighters, some residents reminded the county board that people are hurting and inflation is making it hard for them to pay their own bills.

They predicted rising costs will force longtime residents to move elsewhere.

While Weightman wanted to take what he called “a measured approach,” his colleagues on the board said that failing to achieve an adequate increase would merely push the problem down the road.

“By not facing this now, don’t think it’s going to be cheaper next year,” Commissioner Kathryn Starkey told Weightman. “It’s going to cost more next year.”

Mariano told Weightman: “We’re trying to cut down response times.”

Commissioner Ron Oakley also supported a larger increase.

Starkey attempted a compromise by calling for a reduction in the millage rate, from the current rate of 7.6076 mills to 7.57 mills.

The board approved that cut, on a 4-1 vote, with Weightman dissenting.

The board also directed Carballa to address the reduced revenues from the millage rate reduction through across-the-board cuts to the budget, including budgets of the constitutional officers, when legally possible. The constitutional officers are the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, the Clerk & Comptroller’s Office, the Supervisor of Elections and the Tax Collector’s Office.

Initially, Weightman would not budge from a maximum millage of 2.0 for the Fire MSTU.

He told his colleagues: “I truly believe we need to hold the line for folks.”

He told fellow board members they had the power to help citizens now and should.

But after being unable to bring other board members around to his way of thinking, and after a number of failed votes, Weightman relented and joined his colleagues in approving Starkey’s motion for a 2.1225 millage rate for the Fire MSTU.

Carballa said the new rate is estimated to generate $13.9 million, and is expected to keep the fire department solvent for a solid four years.

Published September 27, 2023

Taking a deeper look at causes of traffic deaths in Pasco

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When the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization discussed new performance standards for safety in February, they asked staff to bring back a more detailed look at traffic-related fatalities.

That’s exactly what happened at the board’s meeting in March.

Tina Russo, active transportation planner for the Pasco MPO, detailed causes for crashes in Pasco County, based on information gleaned from long-form crash reports completed by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and local police departments.

Lane departures, distracted drivers, drowsy drivers, speeding, lack of seatbelts and other factors contribute to the number of serious injuries and deaths that arise from traffic crashes in Pasco County, according to statistics gathered by Tina Russo, who works for the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization. Collisions also frequently occur at intersections. (File)

The idea was to take a closer look at who is being killed on Pasco County roads, who is using the roads and what can be done to prevent crashes, Russo said.

The analysis also took a close look at crash types.

It’s important to know how the crashes are happening, to help prevent them from occurring, she explained.

Russo refuses to call the collisions “accidents,” instead referring to them as crashes.

Increased vigilance and changes in behavior are needed to reduce the death toll on Pasco roads, she said.

The data reveals that Pasco’s crash rate is higher per capita than the state average and higher per capita than in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, too, Russo said.

Pasco County’s population in 2020 was 561,000 in 2020 — nearly 100,000 more than it was a decade before, Russo noted. “Of course, we’re higher than that (now),” she added.

The crash reports show that most of the collisions are occurring on major roads — such U.S. 19, U.S. 301, U.S. 98 and Interstate 75.

“Little (Road) is becoming very similar to (U.S.) 19, unfortunately,” Russo said.

Pasco County Commissioner Gary Bradford cited an inherent problem with information contained on the long-form crash reports.

“There are five law enforcement agencies in the county. Do they all get the same training in filling out these forms? Yes.

“Would I absolutely 100% trust these forms? Absolutely not,” Bradford said. “You have to look at them, sometimes, with a jaundiced eye.”

Russo told the MPO board that while FHP and the local police departments fill out the long-form crash reports, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office does not.

She also detailed the types of behaviors that are killing motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists in the county.

The largest number of crashes in 2022 occurred at intersections, according to the report. There were 4,486 wrecks at intersections, resulting in 308 serious injuries and 33 deaths.

Lane departures are a significant cause of crashes, Russo said. The report shows 3,246 crashes involving lane departures, resulting in 236 serious injuries and 45 fatalities.

“Half of that number is someone driving off the road, with no seatbelt on, hitting a fixed object,” Russo said.

Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman said he’d like to see data involving the safety of roundabouts.

A memorial has been created on State Road 52 near Land O’ Lakes. (Mike Camunas)

Russo offered this observation: “We do know there are less fatalities and serious injuries at roundabouts because of lower speeds. There may be more crashes, but they’re at much lower speeds.

“As a cyclist, I love roundabouts,” she added.

The age of drivers also plays a big role in Pasco’s crashes.

It may not be all that surprising that teenagers were involved in 1,504 crashes in Pasco in 2022, resulting in 104 serious injuries and 12 deaths, according to the Pasco MPO’s report.

But the numbers for aging drivers were even higher, with 2,624 crashes, resulting in 207 serious injuries and 23 deaths, the report shows.

Reducing traffic-related fatalities also involves changing behaviors, she said.

“It’s a scary trend to think that people aren’t wearing their seatbelts again,” Russo said.

Just two changes would result in far fewer deaths from traffic crashes, she added.

“If people wore seatbelts and helmets, our fatality rate would probably drop 50%,” Russo said.

Resolving traffic safety issues takes a collaborative commitment — involving traffic operations, project management, planning and public education, among other things, Russo said.

Improving safety also requires a shared effort by everyone who travels through the county — in vehicles, on bicycles, on motorcycles and by foot, she said.

“Our No. 1 goal is saving lives,” Russo said.

The Pasco County MPO is the lead transportation planning agency for the county and is made up of elected leaders from Pasco County, Zephyrhills, Dade City, New Port Richey and Port  Richey.

Published April 05, 2023

Pasco EDC will host its first BizBlast event

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The Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., will host its inaugural BizBlast this week — offering an array of resources aimed at helping businesses of all sizes to be more successful.

The event will be on April 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Baymar Solutions, 1515 Gunn Highway, in Odessa.

BizBlast is organized to give Pasco business professionals an opportunity to visit 21 resource partner stations — allowing those in attendance a chance to learn more about resources that are available that may be helpful to them.

These partners may be able to assist with funding, help establish long-term talent pipelines, create new talent connections, assist with new business programs, offer upskilling opportunities, provide business connections, and more, according to a Pasco EDC news release.

The participating resource partners, in no particular order are: SMARTstart, WorkforceCONNECT, Baymar Solutions, Pasco County Schools, Spherion Nature’s Coast, Rasmussen University, Florida SBDC at the University of South Florida (USF), USF Corporate and Professional Training, Hope Services and Arc Nature Coast.

Other participating partners are: AmSkills, BayCare – Employer Solutions, Boley Centers, Ultimate 3D Printing Store, JMI Resource, Keiser University, Pasco-Hernando State College, Pridestaff, Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Saint Leo University and CareerSource Pasco Hernando.

Businesses of all sizes are invited to send representatives to find out what resources are available and to plug into existing programs.

Attendees can come and go as they please, throughout the event.

Those planning to attend are encouraged to pre-register by going to PascoEDC.com, and clicking on the events tab.

Published April 05, 2023

Pasco has a new chief correctional officer

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The Pasco County Commission has confirmed the appointment of Stacey Jenkins to serve in the role of chief correctional officer, effective Oct. 1.

Major Jenkins will be leading the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center, as it transitions from being managed by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office to a department operated by Pasco County.

Stacey Jenkins, the new chief correctional officer for Pasco County, thanks the Pasco County Commission on Aug. 24 for confirming her appointment to the role. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

She has more than 31 years of correctional operations experience as a corrections/law enforcement officer with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, according to materials in the Pasco County Commission’s Aug. 24 agenda packet.

She is experienced in developing policy and providing direction for the operation of the detention facility, ensuring adherence to federal and state law, as well as standards of the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission.

She also has developed and managed budgets, set department goals, and has communicated operational needs to the staff and the public, the agenda materials say.

She holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice, with a concentration in legal studies, from Saint Leo University.

The county board approved her appointment on a 5-0 vote.

In another action related to the shift of jail operations, the county board approved the expenditure of nearly $1.58 million to replace correction department vehicles, to cover some trainee personnel costs and to provide for IT services.

Some of the vehicle replacements will be delivered in fiscal year (FY) 2022 and some in fiscal year 2023, but all are being budgeted in the 2022 fiscal year. The money will roll forward, if the cars are not yet available.

The county also is responsible for picking up the costs of salaries and uniforms for 20 new trainees, for the remaining two pay periods of FY 2022, according to materials in the agenda packet.

The increase includes $514,799 for a separate IT system that is needed for the corrections department.

In other action, the county board:

  • Approved $371,910.08 for the purchase of a fire rescue landing craft boat
  • Recognized the need to provide $6 million more for the health insurance fund because a higher number of claims caused the county to exceed its estimated costs
  • Approved an interlocal agreement with Tampa Bay Water for The Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program, to provide a coordinated environmental education program that promotes responsible actions by homeowners, businesses, and schools to conserve water and improve the water quality by reducing polluted runoff from yards and other landscaped areas
  • Approved an agreement with BayCare Behavioral Health Inc., to provide mental health and human development services for indigent residents in Pasco County. The contract is for an amount not to exceed (NTE) $1,221,148 for fiscal year 2023; NTE $1,221,148 for fiscal year 2024; and NTE $1,221,148 for fiscal year 2025. The cumulative NTE is $3,663,444 for the three-year agreement.

Published September 07, 2022

Pasco’s Sheriff’s Office named state Agency of the Year

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The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has been named the Agency of the Year by the Florida Association of School Resource Officers.

The Pasco County School Board took a few minutes at its July 26 meeting to celebrate the accomplishment.

Michael Baumaister, the school district’s chief of safety and emergency operations, said: “It’s no surprise to me that they were selected, due to the incredible partnership we have with our sheriff’s office and we have with our local police agencies.

“I know there are counties in the state of Florida that cannot say that. I know that for sure.

“What impressed me the most was when the Pasco Sheriff’s Office was going up to the podium to get their award and get their recognition, the Pasco (Sheriff’s) Command insisted that we, from the school board, walk up with them to bask in the honor.

“Col. (Jeff) Harrington gave an eloquent speech and pointed out that this honor was not only for them, but for all of us.

“We really appreciate that.

“This speaks volumes about why we have the best program in the state. It’s not about the egos. It’s really what’s best for our students, our staff. And, we can have honest conversations with each other, which leads to policy change and innovation — that creates a safer environment for our schools.

“We don’t wait for a law to change. We do what’s right, and we do it now,” Baumaister said.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco also praised the partnership that’s been developed.

“We hear across the state about the friction that can go on between the district and the sheriff’s office, and who’s going to be in charge of what. The good thing about all of us is that it’s about the kids, first. The kids are the priority. It doesn’t matter who gets credit because it’s about helping those kids,” he said.

The sheriff also noted that open lines of communication between the sheriff’s office and the school district can help the district respond when students are in need of mental health counseling or some other kind of support.

Lt. Troy Ferguson of the sheriff’s office also was singled out during the statewide awards celebration when he received a lifetime achievement award.

Assistant Superintendent Betsy Kuhn shared some of her prepared remarks for that celebration with the school board.

Kuhn said: “Lt. Ferguson has been a true partner to Pasco Schools since he became our School Safety Lieutenant in 2015. Lt. Ferguson recognized the need to enhance our school safety plans and took on the project of completely revamping them, at a time when school safety best practices that were needed, were controversial.

“He designed and wrote a comprehensive, safety-focused, yet age-appropriate and sensitive active threat safety plan and prepared it for implementation, well before it was legislatively required.

“Lt. Ferguson is sought out by law enforcement agencies across the country to share his expertise and experience around school safety best practices. He has been a leader in many large-scale changes in the district’s safety efforts,” she said, citing active threat plans and the  See Something, Say Something programs.

He’s involved in threat assessment and recognizes the role of a school resource officer (SRO) is so much more than a law enforcement officer, Kuhn added.

She continued: “He encourages his staff to be involved in their school communities and values mentoring and supporting our students.

“Lt. Ferguson understands and relates to our school culture and district culture so well that we often tease him about being a district employee, as well as a deputy, because he works so well with us.

“He’s hard-working, smart, resourceful and fun to work with, and our district is safer and better because of his vision and leadership,” Kuhn said.

Sheriff Nocco concurred with Kuhn’s remarks. “Troy does a phenomenal job,” he said.

He noted that the school district and sheriff’s office have a true partnership.

“When they started the guardian program, we were the first ones that got it kicked off. We got it running and going.

“People from across Tampa Bay and across the state said, ‘Can we have your training plans?’

“That’s because we were working together.

“There’s no two separate agencies. The guardians are on the same plan we are. We’re all in it together. We’re training together, we’re working together. That makes a huge difference,” Nocco said.

Superintendent Kurt Browning said he’d be remiss if he didn’t express his gratitude.

“When I attend superintendent’s meetings across the state, there are still districts — it’s like sandpaper with their law enforcement folks. I can tune them out because we don’t have that, never did, from Day One,” Browning said.

“Thank you. Thank you for what you do every day in our schools, to keep our students and staffs safe,” the superintendent said.

Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco (USEP), also offered words of appreciation.

“USEP would like to thank all of our SROs and SSOs (school security officers) for the job that they do each day in protecting and working with our students. They do an outstanding job and they deserve all of the credit that they get,” Peace said.

Published August 03, 2022

Pasco County continues making progress on jail takeover

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Pasco County is continuing to make strides toward the planned transfer of county jail operations.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has been in charge of the jail, but plans call for switching it over to county administration in fiscal year 2022-2023.

Toward that end, the Pasco County Commission has appointed Stacey Jenkins as chief correctional officer.

It also has provided notice to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) regarding its intent to assume operation and control of the Pasco County Jail.

The county board took those actions at its July 12 meeting, as part of the board’s consent agenda. That means the board voted on those agenda items as part of a packet of actions, without discussion, as part of a single vote.

The board notified the FDLE in a transmittal letter signed by Board Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey.

Background on the issue was detailed in the county board’s July 12 agenda packet.

According to that information, the board certified to the U.S. Department of Justice on Jan. 4, 1998 that the sheriff was the county’s chief correction officer, with full administrative control and responsibility for the county jail.

On April 6 of this year, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco notified the board that he intended to transition the management of the jail to the county.

There have been discussions of an Oct. 1 transfer date, but the county and sheriff must approve the transition in an interlocal agreement.

In another action related to the jail, the board authorized the issuance of not-to-exceed $41 million in bonds to finance the expansion of the county jail and to pay the transactional costs.

Published August 03, 2022

Budget discussions begin in Pasco

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A Pasco County budget workshop provided a preliminary look at the upcoming fiscal year, but County Administrator Dan Biles told the county board he’s holding off on any recommended initiatives until he has more numbers.

“We do not have the preliminary assessed values yet from the property appraiser,” Biles told the county board at a May 24 workshop. So, he told the board, the workshop would focus on “trends and what it looks like going forward.”

Robert Goehig, the county’s budget director, told the board that the scenario the county is working with is based on the taxable assessed values increasing at a rate of 10.8%, the same rate as last year.

Goehig noted that’s “not a crazy assumption, given the amount of construction going on in the county.”

Based on the 10.8% rate, revenues would increase by about $27.2 million, of which 40% — or about $10.9 million — would be allocated to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, the budget director said.

“After that, if we deduct the payments to the taxable increment finance trust fund and for the Community Redevelopment Agencies, that’s $3.63 million.

“That leaves $12.7 million or so for the board to spend on new initiatives,” the budget director said.

The county’s Fire Municipal Services Tax Unit is expected to yield 12.6% in additional revenues, which will provide $7.3 million in additional revenues for initiatives.

Goehig also outlined a number of fire rescue enhancements under consideration. They include:

  • Rescue 223 in Land O’ Lakes, at State Road 54 and U.S. 41
  • Rescue 226 in Wesley Chapel
  • Two peak-hour rescue units to reduce rescue response times
  • 25 additional full-time equivalent positions
  • New furniture and equipment for fire stations

The workshop also covered some proposed 2023 capital expenditures. Those include building renovations, information technology hardware and software, athletic field renovations, drainage improvements, park maintenance, and the renovation of the tax collector’s office at the West Pasco Government Center, among other things.

The county has received 140 business plan initiatives from department directors, but Biles said he won’t be making any recommendations on those until he has more information from the property appraiser’s office, which is expected June 1.

Biles said once that information is available, he will have individual sessions with board members to discuss potential budget items. If the board wants additional group discussion on the budget, time can be set aside at a June meeting, he said.

Goehig said there are some expenses the county must cover in fiscal year 2023.

For instance, the cost of fuel has gone up. Last year, the county budgeted it at $2.65 a gallon. This year, the county is budgeting it at $3.65 a gallon. It would budget more, but the county doesn’t pay taxes on fuel, Goehig said.

The county also is feeling the impacts of inflation, which is currently at about 8.5%, Goehig said.

“That is really hitting our departments that rely heavily on building, vehicles and IT (information technology). So, those costs continue to escalate,” the budget director said.

He also noted that the county has a compensation and classification study underway, which will result in recommended salary adjustments.

That state is increasing salaries by 5.38, Biles said.

“So, we kind of set that as a floor. We want to at least be equivalent to what the state gave state employees,” he said.

The county salary study is expected to be completed in mid-July.

That study will base adjustments based on what employees do and the market rate.

“I expect the average to be over 5.3, probably somewhere under 7,” Biles said, referring to expected percentages of wage increases.

The county also must cover increased costs for employee retirement contributions, Goehig said.

Some departments will be faced with rising costs.

For instance, Goehig expects Fire/Rescue to experience a 13.3% increase, largely because of fuel costs and equipment maintenance expenses.

Information technology is expected to face a 6.4% increase, due to increases in software contracts and inflationary impact on hardware, he said.

The county also is facing increased costs for outside spending, including an expected 7.5% increase for Medicaid, which is a state-imposed cost on the county, Goehig said.

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey told her colleagues the county needs to find a way to increase funding for public safety.

“We all love Pasco County. It’s very inexpensive to live here. That comes at a price. And, at what point do we have a responsibility to fund fire and safety at a higher level. I just want you to think about that,” she told her colleagues.

The county board is expected to set to adopt the Truth in Millage tax rate at its July 12 meeting. This is the process used to inform property owners what the maximum ad valorem millage rate is that could be adopted by the board in September. The board cannot adopt a higher rate than the one it specifies in July, but it can reduce it.

Pasco County Budget
Preliminary budget recommendations from County Administrator Dan Biles, include:

  • No increase in the operating millage rate of 7.6076
  • No increase in the Fire Municipal Services Taxing Unit millage rate of 1.8036
  • No change to the stormwater assessment (The combined rate of that is about 2.7%)
  • Increased water and wastewater rates, in accordance with the four-year rate resolution

Published June 01, 2022