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Dispute Prevents Balanced Budget

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By JULIA FERRANTE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 25, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - It has become a familiar refrain this budget season: Pasco County budget officials present one scenario of needs for the coming fiscal year, and Sheriff Bob White's team gives another. Bickering ensues. The two sides continue to disagree, and the county commission steps in with a compromise.

Monday's hourlong discussion about school crossing guards during a special meeting at the West Pasco Government Center was no exception. Management and Budget Director Michael Nurrenbrock estimated the sheriff would need an additional $22,000 to add three crossing guards. White's figure was more like $200,000, because of a discrepancy in the number of guards and training requirements. The county commission came back with a proposal to allocate $100,000 and set aside an equal amount for later in the year.

The decision on the crossing guards left the county's proposed $1.2 billion budget slightly off balance, a day before the final public hearing on the spending plan, slated for 6:30 tonight at the West Pasco Government Center. It was the sixth special meeting on the budget and the fifth in which county and sheriff's officials left with unanswered questions.

'The budget will be balanced' today, Nurrenbrock said after the meeting, still red-faced after the exchange.

A series of other moves - approved in one swift vote with little discussion - resolved a previous deficit of several million dollars. Tax Collector Mike Olson, after a parking lot conversation with Nurrenbrock on Friday, confirmed Monday that he collected at least $1 million more in fees than he initially estimated.

'You do good work in the parking lot, Mr. Nurrenbrock,' Commissioner Pat Mulieri said.
Clerk of the Circuit Court Jed Pittman also collected more from fees and spent less than expected, saving $500,000. Property Appraiser Mike Wells reduced his budget request to near the current year's level, and Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley bid on used voting equipment from Sarasota County in an eBay-like auction, saving $52,500.

A county hiring freeze and spending cuts have netted more than $2.3 million.

Nurrenbrock said the number may grow by 'several hundred thousand more,' prompting White to fire off a letter to Commission Chairwoman Ann Hildebrand after the meeting, 'imploring' the board to dedicate the proceeds to more deputies. The board already had set aside $1 million for new deputies if a jail addition is completed this year.

Commissioners have been trimming and shifting budget allocations for more than two months in an effort to comply with statewide taxing rules.

Reporter Julia Ferrante can be reached at (813) 948-4220 or jferrante@tampatrib.com.

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