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Ideas Grow, But Budget Is Shrinking

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By JULIA FERRANTE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 4, 2008

Updated: 02/03/2008 09:45 pm

NEW PORT RICHEY - Commissioners Pat Mulieri and Michael Cox have some big ideas for Pasco County that they hope to push forward this year.

Mulieri plans to renew her call to pave dirt roads at a lower cost during a public workshop at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the West Pasco Government Center. Cox has visions of building a multipurpose sports complex, acquiring private utilities and boosting recycling.

Their agendas may be upstaged, however, by a bigger problem: How to cope with a constitutional amendment, approved by voters last week, that promises savings to homeowners but deep budget cuts in the upcoming fiscal year?

"Visioning may take a turn to how are we going to look at the budget," Commissioner Ann Hildebrand said Friday. "We will have to look at how much money we have to spend."

Voters on Jan. 29 approved the amendment, which follows state-mandated property tax cuts last year, by a resounding 64 percent majority. The amendment doubles the homestead exemption for houses valued at more than $50,000 and allows full-time residents to take Save Our Homes tax caps with them when they move.

The typical homeowner stands to save about $240 to $300 per year with the amendment. The savings will, however, come at the expense of libraries, parks, public transportation and other services. Dozens of county staff positions could disappear, and layoffs are not out of the question.
Florida counties will have the option of raising local tax rates to compensate for losses from the amendment, but it is not clear by how much. Pasco's five commissioners, three of whom are up for re-election this year, are not enthusiastic about that option.

How much commissioners cut will depend on how much they take in from taxes on new homes and businesses. Management and Budget Director Michael Nurrenbrock estimated the board will have to reduce the $160 million property tax account by about $16 million this coming fiscal year. He said he expects property tax collections to be flat if not below this year's levels next fiscal year. Property values also are likely to decrease.

"That certainly will be part of the discussion," Commission chairman Ted Schrader said. "I can't imagine us talking about any new program."

Schrader said he is willing to hear ideas on how to pave roads at a lower cost, but he was somewhat skeptical the board could come up with a solution.

"We have had this discussion numerous times, but it usually stems around funding," Schrader said.

Former Commissioner Peter Altman suggested raising the gas tax several years ago to pay for road improvements, but he did not have enough support, so the idea failed, Schrader recalled.

"Gas prices are probably double that of the last time we talked," Schrader said. "I don't think there will be a supermajority of support for that."

Mulieri has invited two companies to talk about less expensive alternatives for building road bases and controlling dust. She said she hopes the county can reduce the cost of maintaining about 500 miles of public and private dirt roads.

Cox said he wants the board to set some "unified" goals and objectives for the next two years.

"I think I've laid out some pretty specific goals," he said. "But I'm only one vote."

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

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