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Slash taxes, GOP chief tells leaders

Use ''the same money as last year, which is more than you need,'' Bill Bunting tells the County Commission.

By DAVID DeCAMP
Published July 15, 2006

PORT RICHEY - Pasco County's Republican Party chairman sent a missive asking for deeper property tax cuts from the all-GOP County Commission on Friday, picking an election-year fight.

The county budget proposed this week is nearly $1.1-billion for next year - a 26 percent spending increase over this year's budget, even though the proposal offers a lower tax rate. Property taxes would make up a fraction of a spending plan that also relies on utility fees, sales tax and impact fees paid for new construction.

"You should be finding ways to cut expenses, not increase them," party chairman Bill Bunting wrote in an afternoon e-mail, urging commissioners to use "the same money as last year, which is more than you need."

Commission Chairman Steve Simon and Commissioner Pat Mulieri, both Republicans, are up for re-election in November. Unlike Simon, Mulieri has Republican opponents for the Sept. 5 primary.

The party's executive committee will consider endorsing someone in Mulieri's race for the District 2 seat Thursday, and the budget will be a topic, Bunting said. Mulieri faces utility owner Larry DeLucenay, real estate agent Christie Zimmer and truck driver John Edward Horan III.

The party also might consider endorsing Simon in August if the commissioner acts on the e-mail, Bunting said.

Yet it's also unclear how much Bunting's tax advice matters, though the incumbents said they take party endorsements seriously.

Bunting acknowledged that rejecting his advice probably would not cost any candidate his or the executive committee's support. The e-mail, Bunting said, is "to put them on notice."

"I can't guarantee what the committee will do," he warned.

Spikes in homeowners insurance, fuel and other household expenses make it necessary to give property owners a bigger break, Bunting said. He suggested the rate decrease could be four times what the county proposed, though Simon and Mulieri cast doubt.

Pasco would take in more property taxes because of rising property values. So it would be forced to advertise a 13 percent tax increase if the spending plan passes, even though the tax rate would be lower.

According to county budget officials, the owner of a home valued at $233,000 would pay $50 less next year, if the Homestead deduction and "Save Our Homes" cap on assessment increases are applied.

However, a deeper cut to match this year's property tax revenue would cost the growing county $25-million, budget officials said, equating it to eliminating libraries and the park system. Reaching Bunting's even sharper cut would cost $50-million, Simon said.

Simon said he agrees with Bunting "in concept," but he added: "All I need him to do is show me the items for the parks, libraries and the sheriff he wants to cut."

Like Simon, candidates in Mulieri's race said Friday they want to examine where spending can drop. But Mulieri, who noted the opening proposal includes all departments' spending wishes, said cuts could only go so deep. DuLucenay and Zimmer said they need more time to review the budget. Horan could not be reached for comment.

"I just don't do anything to start shooting things out from the hip," DeLucenay said.

[Last modified July 14, 2006, 22:22:21]