AVON PARK - Churches and non-profit groups in the City of Charm will have to fork over more money for their fire protection after the council voted 4-1 to charge them 75 percent of the institutional rate for the city's fire assessment. This means that churches will have to pay 50 percent more to the city's fire department through the annual assessment than it did last year, when they were charged 50 percent of the institutional rate. Homeowners will still pay $165, while commercial and nursing home rates were unchanged. ...more

August 25, 2008

A fix for a dangerous intersection on Congress Street at Pine Hill Road and Orchid Lake Road could take up to five years, county officials learned. ...more

August 24, 2008

Wanted: executive director for a year-old, regional transportation authority trying to figure out what to build, where to build and how to pay for it all. ...more

August 23, 2008

Trim Notice Nightmare Having received my shell game/smoke and mirrors notice, known by some as the Trim Notice, I assume that I am as disgusted and enraged as many property owners in Florida. Allowing for an additional $25,000 homestead exemption and the whopping less than 5 percent loss in value according to the appraiser's office (another travesty), it's actually possible that my property taxes may drop by less than $10. ...more

August 23, 2008

A fix for a dangerous intersection on Congress Street at Pine Hill Road and Orchid Lake Road could be up to 5 years in the future, county officials learned. Penny for Pasco sales tax revenue is supposed to pay to rebuild the intersection. ...more

August 20, 2008

Back-to-school shopping will be a bleak experience this year for Spring Hill resident Carol Teal. ...more

August 5, 2008

Seek alternative options for back-to-school supplies. ...more

August 5, 2008

The July 31 issue of this newspaper had the headline "Higher School Tax Rate Proposed." I would prefer to see a headline that reads "Lower Rate of Spending Proposed." Of course, we will most likely not ever see that. However, I would propose that the school board and the commissions of the county and various municipalities publish an income and expense statement in the two local newspapers. By publishing these two statements we the taxpayers would be able to see just where the income is derived and where it is spent On the income side it should indicate exactly where the source is, for example; real estate tax, fuel tax and sales tax etc. and on the expense side exactly where our tax dollars are going, for example; payrolls, new vehicles, travel and entertainment, police and fire, consultants and donations etc. ...more

August 4, 2008

Florida's homebuilders were told Saturday that a proposal to slash property taxes raised for schools in exchange for other new revenue will boost home sales and help an industry that's suffering through an economic downturn. ...more

August 3, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Pasco County residents will get their first chance this week to speak up about the school district's 2008-09 proposed budget and tax levy. ...more

July 27, 2008