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Tough to revolt with public indifference

By C. T. BOWEN Editor of Editorials
Published June 10, 2007

The Pasco tea party needs some caffeine.

It is one of the assumptions to surface after the county's legislative delegation gathered Thursday evening at Pasco-Hernando Community College's auditorium to hear from constituents about changes to the property tax system.

"Where are all the angry citizens?" asked Commissioner Pat Mulieri more than half way through the two-hour hearing.

It's a legitimate question. What if you had a tax revolt and nobody revolted?

There was no anger, no bellicosity, none of the typical promises of voting booth retribution if somebody's tax bill didn't drop. At one point, there were 92 people in the auditorium, the vast majority of which were government employees and elected local officials with a vested interest in the Legislature's action.

"This place should be full, " said Larry Muchmore, a retired insurance agent.

He blamed the malaise on public indifference toward government. In particular, the Legislature flubbed homeowner insurance relief and there is a lack of faith in seeing a different outcome during next week's special session on property taxes.

Or, maybe, without a specific plan, there is little to discuss other than rhetoric and scare tactics.

You also sense anger is muted because Pasco commissioners have worked over the past half dozen years to trim its property tax rate by more than a third to less than $6 per $1, 000 of property valuation. Homesteaded property owners are paying less now than they were in 2001.

Escalating property values from a runaway real estate market, however, mean owners of commercial property, second homes and rental units haven't had the same benefit. Former New Port Richey Council member Tom Finn said the tax bill on a modest rental property jumped $1, 600 in a single year.

Hence, the push for changing the property tax system. And legislators know they need a home run after striking out on insurance reform. They're looking for property owners to see a reduced tax bill next year just in time for the 2008 election.

The tinkering in Tallahassee means hard choices locally. In New Port Richey, the Council pledged future property tax growth to pay for citywide redevelopment (CRA). Rolling back property tax rolls could result in an inability to make its bond payments, and it could lay off up to 40 employees whose salaries are covered by the CRA revenues. It's hardly extravagant. Those would be the community-oriented cops, code enforcement workers, the fire inspector, and others whose jobs are supposed to make the city safer and its neighborhoods more livable.

Dade City already made hard choices. It folded its fire department three years ago and contracts with the county for fire protection. The city budget was $5.6-million in 2001. This year it is $5.5-million. The windfall missed this city.

"We have been in stress for 10 years, " said Mayor Hutch Brock.

Then there were the non-elected officials.

Hudson resident Charles Schickley said he initially believed county government was wasteful. He said he is now convinced it has worked to be prudent but could still improve. Oh, and by the way, the commission should increase spending on law enforcement.

That is a typical public reaction. Cut spending, but don't cut services.

Gary Wilner of Trinity advocated allowing commissioners to spend other money - such as impact fees - to supplant property taxes as the way to finance day-to-day operations of the county.

Translation: Let somebody else pay for this stuff.

"If you continue to spend nonrecurring dollars on recurring issues you have a major mess, " countered state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey.

How true.

It's a trick the Legislature uses frequently. But, face it, it's not smart for the locals to take their fiscal lead from the state.

[Last modified June 10, 2007, 07:20:21]