Plans are moving forward for a regional hurricane shelter and health care clinic in Hudson. ...more

June 25, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY Plans are moving forward for a regional hurricane shelter and health care clinic in Hudson. The county commission at a meeting today in New Port Richey awarded a $7.5 million contract to Spring Engineering and Bandes Construction to design and build the facility off Denton Avenue. The project is being funded with state and federal grants. According to the terms of the agreement, the shelter must comply with the latest federal standards, to withstand winds up to 200 miles per hour and the pressures of an F5 tornado. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has, however, exempted the facility from the more stringent rules, Assistant County Attorney Jane Fagan said, and the cost of construction may decrease in light of the exemption. ...more

June 24, 2008

Use it or lose it. The 160,000 people in Hernando County seem to have voted with their feet. Less than 1 percent of county residents use THE Bus. The average nationwide sage is 5 percent. Conclusion: Park THE Bus, at least for the next few years. ...more

June 22, 2008

Use it or lose it. The 160,000 people in Hernando County seem to have voted with their feet. ...more

June 21, 2008

PALM HARBOR -- The impact of proposed county budget cuts on Sheriff's Office services to Palm Harbor, Ozona and Crystal Beach and how successful a second attempt at turning the area into a city are scheduled to be discussed at two Palm Harbor Community Coalition town meetings slated for later this month. ...more

June 14, 2008

It's the last day of school and a thunderstorm brews nearby as 11-year-old Jessica Sabogal sums up why she likes the Jackson Springs Recreation Center. ...more

June 11, 2008

TAMPA - It's the last day of school and a thunderstorm brews nearby as 11-year-old Jessica Sabogal sums up why she likes the Jackson Springs Recreation Center. "It feels safe," said the soon-to-be sixth-grader, who participates in the center's free after-school program while under the watchful eye of Hillsborough County employees. But Jessica's parents may have to pay for that care this fall if Hillsborough County commissioners decide to levy a fee to help offset a shrinking county budget. ...more

June 10, 2008

Hillsborough County might have an $87 million budget deficit, but it won't make up the shortfall by reducing or eliminating a popular after-school and summer recreation program, commissioners pledged Thursday. ...more

June 6, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Pasco County officials and law enforcement leaders might still be far apart on how much cuts might become necessary in the next Sheriff's Office budget, according to several comments today. Both Commissioner Jack Mariano and a Sheriff's Office spokesman, Doug Tobin, hailed the spirit of cooperation between the two sides in the wake of Amendment 1 property tax reforms. ...more

June 5, 2008

Lean and mean. That's the direction Hernando County government must go if it hopes to survive challenging economic times, County Administrator David Hamilton said Tuesday. ...more

June 4, 2008