 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
County braces for calls on street light taxes
By SAUNDRA AMRHEIN, Times Staff Writer NEW PORT RICHEY -- The county is expecting a deluge of phone calls from property owners fearing they are being billed twice for street light services. For the first time in years, the Property Appraiser's office has included the street light bill on property tax notices being sent out this summer for 2003. Property tax bills mailed by the Tax Collector's Office in November also will show the street light charges for next year. But starting today , the Pasco County Utilities Services will start mailing bills to 57,000 customers for expected costs for 2002. Assistant County Administrator Doug Bramlett told the County Commission on Tuesday that his office was setting up extra phone banks to clear up the confusion. His office hopes to explain that the two bills are charges for two different years. "We've already had some calls," he said. In other business during the meeting at the West Pasco Government Center: -- The commission approved conditions under which property owners can get discounts for paving projects. Those living on unpaved county maintained roads will get a 25 percent discount on the assessment costs. Under voluntary or forced projects on county maintained paved roads in poor condition, residents will get a 25 percent discount only on costs above $1,000. Property owners on county maintained paved roads in fair condition will get a 10 percent discount on costs above $1,000. Property owners on noncounty maintained roads will get 15 years to pay off the paving costs instead of five. -- The commission voted 4-1 to give the Three H Learning Center another hearing related to the commission's decision last year to prohibit the making of signs at the trade school. Commissioners said they were concerned that the center was originally approved as office space and that organizers later tried to change the center's use. Even though signs aren't being made at the center, neighbors continue to complain about code violations. Commissioner Pat Mulieri voted Tuesday not to give the center another hearing, to be scheduled at a later date. During the hearing, neighbors can voice complaints about the center. -- The commission also voted to approve the introduction of an ordinance tightening rules on bingo. The ordinance will later be discussed at public hearings before final approval. The proposed ordinance would force all bingo games to be registered. County attorneys suspect an unknown number of bingo games have avoided registration by claiming to average fewer than 50 players at a time. Currently games with 50 players and more must register. -- The commission also approved the consideration of raising the fees paid by customers in the Clerk of Circuit Court's Office. Public hearings will be set on the issue later. -- The commission approved the establishment of an advisory committee to help identify sensitive wildlife habitats and ways of buying them. The advisory committee will be made up of county biologist Bill Tietz and 10 experts recommended by the Environmental Lands Acquisition and Management Program, or eLAMP. -- The commission also agreed to investigate the idea of buying defibrillators to be put into public buildings to help save victims of cardiac arrest. -- Saundra Amrhein covers Pasco County government. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244, or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is amrhein@sptimes.com.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From today's Pasco Times Letters |
