If approved by voters Tuesday, the 1-cent-on-the-dollar sales tax hike would raise about $437.5-million over its 10-year lifespan. About a quarter of that would pay for a property tax rate cut from the School Board. The county and the School Board would then each get 45 percent, and the cities would split the remaining 10 percent.
Here's how officials plan to spend the money:
Schools
The School Board estimates it would get about $196.8-million over 10 years. That figure includes some of the sales tax dollars that will be used to reimburse the school district for cutting its property tax rate.
School officials say they will build nine schools and renovate or repair 10 others with that money. Their project list includes the following:
FIVE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS: Three in west Pasco, two in south-central. Cost: $57,091,688.
TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS: One in the Wiregrass Ranch Development, one in the Shady Hills area. Cost: $42,590,763.
TWO HIGH SCHOOLS: In the western half of the county. Cost: $59,319,950.
CENTENNIAL ELEMENTARY: Replace roofs, build covered walkways for bus and car loading areas, replace freezers and coolers, install security alarms. Cost: $2,571,500.
COX ELEMENTARY: Construct covered sidewalk, add elevator, music and art rooms. Cost: $1,188,000.
GULF MIDDLE: Replace roof, heating and air conditioning; improve drop off area; remodel labs and add electrical upgrades; remodel gym; install security system; remodel existing building to create classroom space. Cost: $2,852,500.
GULF HIGH: Repair roof; add parking and bus loops, locker rooms and career resource center; remodel guidance area; upgrade technology and lighting. Cost: $2,001,500.
PASCO ELEMENTARY: Renovate old classrooms and parking lot, roof. Cost: $1,243,296.
PASCO MIDDLE: Build new media center and cafeteria and convert existing media center and cafeteria to classrooms. Build new classroom wing, renovate auditorium, new roof in main building. Cost: $4,342,500.
PASCO HIGH: Replace gymnasium floor and air handler, covered walkways, join cafeterias, add two elevators, remodel classrooms, replace roofs, replace freezers and coolers. Cost: $5,011,500.
SAN ANTONIO ELEMENTARY: Replace chiller, cover walkways, replace roof, additional parking, replace freezers and coolers. Cost: $1,381,000.
STEWART MIDDLE: Demolish and replace old cafeteria, music building and older classrooms. Replace gymnasium floor, renovate building, reroof, add bus loop and athletic track. Cost: $15,868,132.
ZEPHYRHILLS HIGH: Replace air handler and gymnasium floor, resurface track, new special education classrooms, replace freezers and coolers. Cost: $1,353,500.
County government
The sales tax hike would raise about $145.5-million for the county over 10 years. The county would spend half of that - about $72.7-million - on the following transportation projects:
INTERSTATE 75 AND STATE ROAD 54: A new interchange on County Road 54/State Road 54, including widening CR 54/SR 54 to six lanes underneath the overpass from Pasco Road to County Road 581. Cost: $22,039,126.
U.S. 19: Build "channelized" medians along entire length of the highway to allow turns only in a single direction. Cost: $13,365,000.
SEVEN SPRINGS BOULEVARD: Add southbound right-turn lane onto Mitchell Boulevard, and place a divider between the northbound and southbound lanes from Perrine Ranch Road to the Pinellas County line. Cost: $7,767,141.
STATE ROAD 52 AND PROSPECT ROAD: Add eastbound and westbound left-turn lanes and an eastbound right-turn lane. Cost: $4,828,085.
STATE ROAD 54: Repave from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road, widening lanes to 12 feet and paving shoulders. Cost: $3,225,150.
MAIN STREET: Repave from Congress Street to Rowan Road, widening the lanes to 12 feet and paving shoulders. Cost: $2,055,894.
GRAND BOULEVARD AND TROUBLE CREEK ROAD: Add right-turn lanes in all directions, and lengthen southbound left-turn lane on Grand Boulevard. Cost: $1,632,488.
GRAND BOULEVARD AND MOOG ROAD: Add eastbound and westbound left-turn lanes and a northbound right-turn lane. Cost: $987,398.
GRAND BOULEVARD AND MILE STRETCH DRIVE: Add curbs, gutters and turn lanes. Cost: $1,852,875.
U.S. 19 AND FOX HOLLOW DRIVE: Add westbound left-turn lane. Cost: $1,742,499.
REGENCY PARK BOULEVARD AND SAN MIGUEL DRIVE: Add westbound and northbound right-turn lanes, and add traffic signal if needed. Cost: $1,249,999.
COLLIER PARKWAY AND WEEKS BOULEVARD: Add westbound left-turn lanes into Lake Myrtle School and an eastbound right-turn lane at the parent drop-off. Also, add sidewalks on north side of Weeks Boulevard from Collier to Martha Court. Cost: $1,375,000.
BOYETTE ROAD: Realign Boyette to eliminate two sharp curves. Install traffic signal at SR 54, and pave shoulders and add a bike path. Cost: $1,249,999.
CLINTON AVENUE: Repave from Pasadena Lane to Fort King Road, widen lanes to 12 feet, pave shoulders. Cost: $1,123,110.
ORCHID LAKE DRIVE: Realign with Pinehill Road and add traffic signal at Congress Street. Cost: $652,388.
LITTLE ROAD: Add eastbound left-turn lane and southbound left-turn lane (for U-turns) at Ponderosa Avenue. Cost: $268,313
BIKE TRAIL: Along Massachusetts Avenue, from Congress Street to Starkey Boulevard. Cost: $3,513,960
BUS STOP SHELTERS: Along U.S. 19 and U.S. 301. Cost: $900,899
LAND: For future road expansion projects. Cost: $2,922,457.
Another 20 percent of the county's revenue, about $29-million, would go toward the following public safety projects:
792 sheriff's patrol cars over 10 years: $23,079,246.
70 heart defibrillators for public buildings: $140,000.
50 laptop computers for sheriff's detectives: $150,000.
8 ambulances: $1,133,513.
8 Class A Pumper firetrucks: $1,794,729.
2 new fire stations along State Road 52 (one near U.S. 19, the other near Hays Road): $2,796,176.
The county would set aside another 25 percent of its revenue, about $36.3-million, to buy environmentally sensitive lands or development rights from willing sellers.
The remaining five percent of the county's revenue, about $7.2-million, would be earmarked for other facilities or contingency costs.
Zephyrhills
The city would get $9,425,140 over the 10-year life of the sales tax hike, according to county estimates. Officials plan to combine the sales tax revenue with grants and private dollars from the community to cover this $13,069,564 list of projects:
Performing arts center: $3-million.
New library (including land): $2.5-million.
Walkable parks with decorative fountains: $100,000.
Park improvements, such as playground equipment and ball field improvements: $4,007,500. Land acquisition for parks: $900,000.
Police communication devices: $100,000.
Fire station/training building: $800,000.
Fuel tank replacements: $300,000.
Drainage improvements: $192,664.
Sidewalk construction: $202,400.
Connecting Eighth Street to Fort King: $122,000.
Airport Road extension: $120,000.
Simons Road improvements: $725,000.
San Antonio
The city would get about $603,046 over the 10-year life of the sales tax hike. Although officials do not yet have cost estimates, they plan to put the money toward the following projects:
Street expansion and construction projects, including reconstruction of Second Avenue, part of Jesse Jones Avenue and part of Joe Hermann Drive (between Jesse Jones and Pennsylvania avenues).
Adding sidewalks along several streets, including Pennsylvania Avenue west of Curley Road.
Public safety equipment.
Construction equipment for public works projects.
Dade City
The city would get about $5,420,641 over the 10-year life of the sales tax hike. The money would go toward the following projects:
Grant matches for Florida Department of Environmental Protection small community sewer system project and other grants to renovate sewer system.
Water line work and other infrastructure improvements in conjunction with sewer overhaul.
Expansion of water and sewer systems to encourage expansion south of downtown.
Paving remaining dirt streets.
Storm water/drainage improvements in flood prone areas.
Public safety departments communications system upgrade to match planned county upgrade.
Construction and debt service on City Hall, Police Department, Charles A. McIntosh/American Legion Hall renovations.
St. Leo
The town would get about $564,085 over the 10-year life of the sales tax hike. Officials would put the money toward the following:
Roads and sidewalks, and the associated cost of obtaining required land.
Draining and water quality infrastructure, including efforts to assure Lake Jovita remains uncontaminated.
Public safety vehicles if needed (St. Leo contracts with Pasco for fire and police).
Upgrade/expansion of Town Hall
Extension of water lines and fire hydrant locations.
Other sales tax dollars would go to the cities of Port Richey ($2,606,143) and New Port Richey ($13,715,069) over 10 years for road projects, drainage improvements and other items on their project lists.
New Port Richey
The city would get an estimated $13,715,069 over the 10-year life of the sales tax hike. Officials would divide it as follows:
45 percent for environmental improvements, such as drainage projects, flood control measures and amenities at the James E. Grey Preserve.
35 percent for transportation projects, including reconstruction or resurfacing of local roads.
20 percent for public safety, recreational and cultural improvements, such as police and fire/rescue vehicles, parks improvements and library equipment.
The city has a list of possible projects in each category but has not yet decided which projects would be funded with sales tax dollars, City Manager Gerald Seeber said.
Port Richey
The city would get an estimated $2,606,143 over the 10-year life of the sales tax hike. Officials plan to spend it on the following:
Building and improving roads and transportation facilities (including the cost of land acquisition, engineering and permitting).
Creating public drainage and other infrastructure designed to protect the water quality in the Pithlachascotee River, Miller's Bayou, intercity water canals and the Gulf of Mexico.
Building and improving drainage systems (including the cost of acquiring right-of-way).
Building and maintaining an emergency shelter to protect residents in the event of a hurricane, flooding or other natural disaster. The shelter would also be used as a community center.
Providing relief to residents who have been displaced due to natural disasters, and providing assistance to residents in flood zones to elevate their homes.
Buying blighted properties, demolishing condemned structures and preparing land for redevelopment (including design of proposed structures).
Repairing and replacing existing water lines, sewer lines and lift stations.
Other sales tax dollars would go to Zephyrhills ($9,425,140), Dade City ($5,420,641), San Antonio ($603,046) and St. Leo ($564,085) over the 10 years to pay for road projects, drainage improvements and other items on their project lists.
- SOURCES: Pasco County School District; Pasco County Office of Management and Budget; City of Zephyrhills; City of Dade City; City of San Antonio; Town of St. Leo; City of New Port Richey; City of Port Richey.
