Does anyone really believe that I would have continued to spend money to collect signatures on a petition that was flawed? There is not now nor has there been a need to have changed the date in the petition. The issue was anticipated and addressed prior to seeking signatures. ...more

August 8, 2008

Pasco County is taking it to the max - OfficeMax, that is. OfficeMax is the first company to offer discounts through a purchasing network Pasco created this year. ...more

August 6, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Pasco County is taking it to the max - OfficeMax, that is. OfficeMax is the first company to offer discounts through an purchasing network Pasco County created this year. With leaner government budgets in the wake of the Amendment No. 1 property tax system changes, the Pasco County Purchasing Department responded to the call for greater efficiency with the idea for the cooperative to pool resources. ...more

August 6, 2008

The current discussion concerning offshore drilling is an example of how hard it is for our leaders to do the right things for the right reasons. ...more

August 1, 2008

County commissioners on Tuesday set a tentative tax rate of $5.43 per $1,000 of property valuation for the 2008-09 fiscal year, the same rate homeowners paid this year. ...more

July 24, 2008

County commissioners on Tuesday set a tentative tax rate of $5.43 per $1,000 of property valuation for the upcoming 2008-09 fiscal year – the same rate homeowners paid this year. Property owners will, however, save an estimated $115 each in the coming year, however, thanks to statewide property tax reform, a slow economy and a trimmed down budget of $980 million. Homeowners in August will receive notices from the property appraiser showing their estimated taxes for the coming year. Those in the county's fire and rescue taxing district also must pay 99.6 cents per $1,000 as well as school taxes, water district and mosquito control district fees and other assessments. Those in municipalities pay local taxes. ...more

July 23, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY -- With revenues declining, county leaders had to go the extra mile to stretch dollars for road construction projects in the next five years. ...more

July 23, 2008

Pasco County leaders will spend less, and homeowners will save an estimated $115 each in the 2008-09 fiscal year, thanks to statewide property tax reform and a struggling economy. ...more

July 16, 2008

Pasco County leaders will spend less, and homeowners will save an estimated $115 each in the 2008-09 fiscal year, thanks to statewide property tax reform and a struggling economy. For the first time in three years, Pasco County's proposed budget has dipped below $1 billion, although it remains close at $980 million. That represents a 19 percent decrease from the current fiscal year total of $1.2 billion, County Administrator John Gallagher said today. Pasco County commissioners got their first look at the fiscal 2008-09 budget at a special meeting in New Port Richey. The budget includes higher fees for parks, planning, zoning and development services and about $3.8 million more to compensate for higher fuel costs. The plan also has 44 fewer full-time positions than this fiscal year, although some new jobs are being added. ...more

July 15, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY -- County leaders are enduring the monetary equivalent of a root-canal operation as they contemplate shrinking the budget by 19 percent to reflect the downturn in the economy. ...more

July 15, 2008