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Ax Looms Over Budget

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By JULIA FERRANTE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 23, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Pasco County leaders project they will have to cut an estimated $16 million from their budget in the coming fiscal year if Florida voters approve a property tax amendment Tuesday.

The losses could reach $124 million and deeply cut into law enforcement, park and library services during the next five years, according to Michael Nurrenbrock, the county's director of management and budget.

"Not all of the amendment is going to go into effect right away," Nurrenbrock said, noting it is difficult to estimate how options for increased homestead exemptions and portability of Save Our Homes protection will affect the county.
County commissioners cut about $16 million from the portion of their budget supported by property taxes last year after the Legislature ordered counties to slash between 3 percent and 9 percent to provide relief to homeowners. The proposed property tax amendment is intended to provide more relief, though many governments say the savings will be at the expense of services.

Pasco County Sheriff Bob White, whose spending plan comprises the majority of the $160 million in the county budget supported by property taxes, received an increase last year, but had to trim from nearly every account.
County Administrator John Gallagher initiated a hiring freeze and asked all departments to keep spending to the previous year's levels. Some fees were increased, and plans for parks, libraries and social services were scaled back.

Service Cuts Projected

Commissioner Jack Mariano said he worries that if the amendment passes, Pasco County residents will see much more severe cuts.

"When we look at what we went through last year, if the amendment goes through, the havoc this is going to cost will be very substantial," he said. "The sheriff, parks, libraries, these are the only places to cut, and I don't think the citizens want that."

Nurrenbrock said the state of affairs was not as dire as it might have been last year due to increases in property tax assessments and new construction. The downturn in the real estate market could make things dramatically different next fiscal year.

"From talking to the property appraiser, I don't think we will have those kinds of increases," Nurrenbrock said. "I think the tax rolls will be very, very flat compared to the current fiscal year."

Commissioner Pat Mulieri asked if new property tax assessments will reflect plummeting home sale prices.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder, whose first day was Tuesday, said property value drops that occur before Jan. 1, by law, should be reflected in next year's assessments.

Residents protected by a Save Our Homes cap on assessment increases for many years are unlikely to benefit from the downturn, because their tax assessments generally are much lower than sale prices, he said. Those who have elected homestead exemptions in recent years may, however, see decreases.

Mulieri said she hopes voters "will think very clearly before they go to the polls" about potential cuts.

Building Grant Rejected

Also Tuesday, commissioners rejected a $300,000 grant to "harden" a recreational facility to be built at the Wesley Chapel District Park so it may serve as a hurricane shelter.

When the county received notification of the grant award, guidelines called for building the facility to withstand 150 mph winds, Assistant County Administrator Dan Johnson said.

A new federal law now would require the county to spend more than $2 million so the building could withstand 200 mph winds and pressure changes from tornadoes if officials accept the grant. In addition, changing the design would not make it difficult to accommodate recreation.

"We know of no building in the country that is constructed for 200 mile per hour winds," Johnson said. "There aren't even doors designed for this."

In other action, commissioners agreed to:

•Increase fares for bus service to cover rising costs, despite concerns from some riders who said they cannot afford the price increase. Commission Chairman Ted Schrader said the alternative is cutting back on service. The board decided to pursue advertising to help offset cost increases.

•Pay $30,000 in attorney fees to the professional firefighters' union per court order. The allocation is to cover the union's costs for defending claims about unscheduled overtime and incremental raises. The court ruled against the county, saying Pasco County officials should have given 2.5 percent raises to firefighters, as other employees were given, after a salary study. County officials had offered firefighters a raise, but union officials rejected the offer saying they should be paid as much as 25 percent more, Personnel Director Barbara De Simone said.

•Amend an ordinance to better define sexually oriented businesses so the county may better regulate them.

Commissioners also:

• Delayed action on an ordinance requiring builders to conduct geological tests to detect sinkholes. Commissioner Michael Cox, who initiated the ordinance, said recent changes to the draft regulations "watered down" the ordinance. Officials plan to consult industry representatives.

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

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