Fiorentino partly supports Penny tax

The schools chief candidate backs Penny for Pasco aid for schools but has reservations about the county and cities' portion.

For the schools, state Rep. Heather Fiorentino says, "absolutely."

For the county and city governments, she's not so sure.

After announcing her entry late Thursday into the schools superintendent race, Fiorentino, R-New Port Richey, gave only partial support to Penny for Pasco, the proposed 1-cent-on-the-dollar sales tax increase for schools and local government projects.

"I totally support it for the schools. In some ways, I wish they had done it alone," the former teacher said of the joint initiative. "I think everyone agrees the school system has to be fixed, but I don't think everyone agrees on how the county or the cities are going to spend their money."

Fiorentino's partial support stood in contrast to that of fellow Republican and district chief financial officer Chuck Rushe - until Thursday, the only candidate in the race for the $141,000-a-year job.

"I want to make it clear," Rushe said Friday. "I am absolutely, 100 percent in support of Penny for Pasco."

Fiorentino's formal entry into the superintendent's race introduced a new element into the early tax debate, making it an immediate campaign issue.

Superintendent John Long, a Rushe supporter, said he was glad to hear Fiorentino was somewhat supportive, but he added a caveat: "If she understood our budget better, she would support it under any circumstance."

University of South Florida political science professor Susan MacManus, a Pasco native, said that whatever the outcome of the March 9 tax vote, both candidates would likely have time to distance themselves from the tax election's outcome before they see their own names on a November ballot.

"You've got a large portion of the electorate that just won't start paying attention until a few weeks before the election," MacManus said.

But, she said, it wouldn't make either campaign any less contentious - a new flavor in a school district that has long fended off the kind of political controversy that haunts many local school boards.

"I think it's going to be a heated race, and whoever wins is not going to win by a landslide," said Lynne Webb, president of the United School Employees of Pasco teachers union.

The tax increase would raise about $31-million a year, with the school district and the county each getting 45 percent. The cities would split the rest.

Last week, the school district released a list of 20 schools and other renovations that would be completed in part with Penny for Pasco dollars - a list Rushe was instrumental in creating.

Like the rest of the voters, Fiorentino said, she is still waiting to see how the county and cities would spend their share of the revenue.

A poll in April showed strong support for both major parts of the sales tax, said Allen Altman, co-chair of Pasco's Citizen Committee, a group pushing the proposal.

Among the 400 people surveyed by telephone, 70 percent said they would definitely or probably support a sales tax increase for schools, and 65 percent said they would definitely or probably support a sales tax increase for county projects, such as improved roads and public safety equipment.

"The citizens have spoken on what they want to see addressed," Altman said. "I am hopeful that once (Fiorentino) learns all of those, she will be fully supportive of (the Penny for Pasco) and not try to drive a wedge into the needs for political gain."

Fiorentino also criticized the County Commission's decision to place the sales tax referendum on the March 9 presidential primary ballot. Only Democrats have candidates on the ballot then, although everyone would be allowed to vote on the sales tax question.

The three-term lawmaker would have preferred the Aug. 31 primary - less cluttered than the Nov. 2 ballot, but still drawing voters from both political parties.

"If you want something to be fair, you have to present it fairly," Fiorentino said. "The August primary would have been a fair vote for all the citizens."

Commissioners said they picked the March date, in part, so that officials would know whether to count on the extra sales tax money while planning their budgets over the summer. Altman said the earlier results could also help local governments line up matching state dollars for projects sooner.

Long countered that, until now, Fiorentino hasn't gotten involved in helping to make those decisions.

"I disagree with Dr. Long," Fiorentino said.

At the county's request, Fiorentino introduced legislation this past spring allowing county government and the school district to promise a property tax rate cut in exchange for raising the sales tax by a penny. She said she was disappointed that county officials are now struggling to find a way to put that property tax cut promise in writing.

Rushe, also a Republican, said he recognized the tax issue could have a galvanizing effect on the superintendent's race. But the 28-year school district veteran said he felt good about his position.

"I'm sure my supporting the Penny will upset a number of people who are opposed to it, but I believe it's the right thing to do," Rushe said. "I think our needs are pretty compelling."

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