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Mobile home park's sale leaves many in lurch

Linger Longer Mobile Home Park is an over 55 mobile home community in Tarpon Springs. Park owners gave residents an early Christmas present this past December, a notice that they may linger no longer. Get out by June 7. Those lingering longer will face eviction proceedings.

Most of the Linger Longer seniors, some as old as their late 80s, have, with purchase, improvements and labor, between $20,000 and $40,000 invested in their mobile homes. No need to worry, say park owners, homeowners have the option to move their homes.

Easy for them to say. It turns out that few of the park's older homes could actually be moved. Other parks cannot or will not accept the older homes. The only practical result for virtually all homeowners is abandonment, regardless of cost or investment.

Facing the inevitable, more than 75 percent of the park's seniors are moving or have already moved. Some can manage it and have purchased mobile homes elsewhere, many at a cost of $30,000 or more. Others can't afford it. Both groups feel the pain.

For now, friends are going or gone. A close-knit community is broken up. Weekly bingo games are a thing of the past. No more line dancing. Saturday morning breakfasts at the recreation hall are over.

Park picnics, dinners, potluck suppers, fish fries and ice cream socials are no more. And you guessed it, the owner has not even had the decency to talk with or communicate with the residents. He hides behind a development company, a relocation services company, an investment company, lawyers and his local representative (who also is hiding).

And all of this for the almighty dollar. The park was a profitable enterprise as a park. Other than the park, the owner already has his millions. His lack of concern for senior fixed-income people is evident.

His apparent objective: build, sell and profit from 248 condos and townhouses. The result: Park seniors lose a substantial investment in a home many were planning to live in for the remainder of their days.

Ah, yes, life's lottery - some win, some lose. Too bad that the losers always seem to be the ones that can least afford it.

Clubhouse would make great first home

Re: A piece of Old Florida in peril, story, April 14.

I was so saddened and moved by the history of the Linger Longer Mobile Home Park Clubhouse. There are so few historical buildings left in our area, and this one especially retains all the beautiful images of Old Florida that I love so much.

My husband and I just got married last month. We live in a tiny apartment. I'm in school to be a teacher, and my husband just got his first job as an engineer technician. This old clubhouse would be our dream house. If you could give us information on how we could contact the park's owners so we could possibly take out a loan and see it saved and moved to a lot to be our first home, we would greatly appreciate it.

Marina purchase a good deal for county

Re: Sinking our money into marina deal is misguided, letter, March 31.

Your reader's recent statement that by purchasing a marina in Tarpon Springs, Pinellas County is spending tax dollars foolishly is incorrect. No tax dollars are required for this purchase.

Based on projections, which will be addressed by a certified appraiser, 20 years of marina revenue will satisfy the revenue bonds used to buy that marina. Once those bonds are paid, the marina's income stream will help fund our future government's needs. Pinellas County is making a wise decision.

While I have pen in hand, I want to try to correct some recent stories about taxes. Property tax revenue paid to an agency of local government is the product of two variables: first, the value of the nonexempt tax roll and, second, the millage rate for that agency. The property appraiser is required by law to assess property at full market value, and each spring so notifies each agency of local government.

The local government then determines the amount of property tax revenue it needs, and thus obtains its millage rate.

Stating that "increasing values automatically increase taxes" is incorrect. The opposite is more accurate: By law, to avoid a "tax increase" the government must "roll back" the millage rate to avoid a tax increase (except for new construction and annexations). If the tax base doubles, and the millage rate does not change, the agency must by law advertise a "100 percent tax increase."

In my opinion, an increase in property values should not automatically equate to a tax increase. The burden on general fund services supplied by local government is the same, whether one's home is worth $100,000 or $500,000.

When the exempt roll increases (e.g., by transferring title of the baseball stadium to Pinellas County), then a greater share of the tax burden is borne by owners of nonexempt property.

If there is a problem with rising taxes in a given city, it is not caused by increasing property value.

Legally blind with forms but not to drive

Re: A tip of the hat for drivers in denial, letter, April 16.

I just had to add to this. I used to work at a postal contract station in Palm Harbor.

My favorite: People who would come in to mail something that needed a form, who would ask, "Could you fill this out for me? I'm legally blind." Then they would go get in their cars to drive home.

Citizen Police Academy gets rave review

I recently completed the Largo Police Department's Citizen Police Academy. I would recommend this program to everyone. It was a great experience involving learning what the department does, how it works and meeting many of the officers.

It gave me a new perspective on the role of the police in the community and police work. The program is free and runs for seven weeks.

We had demonstrations on many aspects of police work: canine officers, patrol officers, homicide detectives, police training, drug enforcement officers and members of the bicycle patrol. We also met the police chief, used the firearms training system and learned about domestic violence and homeland security.

It's a great way to learn more about our community and how to help the police protect us.

[Last modified April 21, 2006, 01:41:14]