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Sheriff Won't Use All His Pasco Penny Funds

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By LISA A. DAVIS

ldavis@tampatrib.com

Published: February 26, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - Pasco Sheriff Bob White says he will only use part of the Penny for Pasco allocation slated for his agency next fiscal year and will hand over approximately $1.9 million to the county.

In a letter sent last week to Pasco County Commission Chairman Jack Mariano, White says he only intends to use about $600,000 to buy replacements for 30 patrol vehicles and one Agricultural Unit truck.

About $2.5 million in Penny for Pasco funds is anticipated to come into the sheriff's office for the fiscal year.

Penny for Pasco funds don't directly offset the property tax money that funds the majority of the sheriff's office budget. But White said he is confident commissioners can use the $1.9 million to indirectly offset projected shortfalls in the upcoming budget.

The rules of the Penny for Pasco program, though, won't allow the county to use White's unspent funds to shore up the budget, according to Michael Nurrenbrock, who runs the county's Office of Management and Budget.

Declining property taxes, driven by falling property values, will contribute to a likely $30 million shortfall next year, county budget projections show.

The county's portion of Penny for Pasco funds came to $13 million this year. About 20 percent, or $2.6 million, went to public safety purchases.

Penny funds can be spent only on projects earmarked for them, Nurrenbrock said. However, county commissioners can shift funds among different Penny projects.

"We were very specific in what we told the citizens we were going to spend that money on," Nurrenbrock said.

White has said he continues to look at ways to save money during the down economy.

"I am particularly proud of our agency personnel and their hard work in finding ways our office can tighten its belt," he said in a prepared statement. "Cooperation countywide will be pivotal as we move toward tackling the looming deficits in county funding. This office will continue to find ways to cut costs while maintaining public safety services."

Recently, White made numerous changes to the agency organizational chart, abolishing some specialized units and moving 30 deputies to road patrol.

Four years ago, Pasco voters approved the Penny for Pasco tax sales tax as a way to provide additional funding for Pasco schools, sheriff's office vehicles, firefighting equipment and other county needs.

Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski contributed to this report.

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