Libraries illustrate crunch

Tax cuts will mean fewer books, no concerts. All county departments feel the squeeze.

By DAVID DECAMP
Published July 7, 2007

HUDSON - Pasco's public libraries will buy fewer books, magazines and CDs. The well-known concert series is history.

Even snowbirds will feel the pinch: The out-of-town newspapers they peruse in the reading room will be gone -- they'll have to surf the Internet instead.

That's all part of the library system's cost-cutting plan as county government looks for ways to fulfill the state-ordered property tax cuts.

And there still will be a $15-million hole when the 2007-08 budget is proposed at the County Commission meeting Tuesday in Dade City, budget director Mike Nurrenbrock said Friday. Commissioners will have to figure out where to cut to reach a balanced budget by Oct. 1. They'll start voting on cuts July 17.

The libraries budget provides a snapshot of the financial fight that's about to unfold. Pasco has to cut its property taxes for the upcoming year because of a law passed by the Legislature and Gov. Charlie Crist.

"Kind of jokingly, maybe we can send the library system to the Legislature and let them do it," Commissioner Ted Schrader said.

Pasco was ordered to slice property taxes by 3 percent, but the cut has been minimized for a year by valuable new construction hitting the tax roll. Overall, the latest estimates from the county budget office show an $8-million increase in property tax revenue over this past year, despite the tax rate going down.

Yet other taxes and fees stayed flat or declined as costs went up, according to estimates.

Adding to the pressure, other elected officials asked for more money, led by Sheriff Bob White's bid for an $11-million hike to a $94.7-million budget for next year, a13.4 percent increase over this past year. Their full requests are included in the proposed budget -- it will be up to commissioners to decide where to cut.

"Honestly, I don't know how we can go anywhere near $11-million, even half of what he requested," Schrader said.

Some extras remain

Under orders from County Administrator John Gallagher, all department heads were supposed to submit spending proposals that showed no increase from this year. Since spending discussions began, about $25-million was cut. Departments under Gallagher's control that rely on property taxes would spend $3-million less next year, Nurrenbrock said.

However, Nurrenbrock was unwilling to say whether the total budget would be below last year's record $1.1-billion level.

Indeed, some perks and extras remain in the proposal, although Schrader said they could become targets for cuts.

There's $2.5-million that Pasco wants to use to attract new industry. Crist vetoed $7.5-million for that effort from the state, and with the county already cutting public services, it might not look good publicly to set aside that kind of money at the county level, Schrader said.

Even county lobbyists, some commissioners' Blackberry service and travel money may be on the chopping block as the commission tries to avoid layoffs. While no firings are anticipated, some people will be forced to shift to other positions, Nurrenbrock said. Overall, the county will add 49 jobs next year, but the gain results from departments such as utilities that don't rely on property taxes.

"This is the first time we've had to get into the meat and potatoes and micromanage, which I'm really reluctant to do," Schrader said.

Cuts could get worse

But the public will see the change most in services such as libraries. Library director Linda Allen said the proposed budget cuts $10,000 for the popular concert series, which brought notable musicians to Pasco.

New pianists will not be the only ones missing; so will new librarians, unless grants for their salaries are found. Hiring countywide will be frozen, unless Gallagher approves filling a post. Booths promoting the libraries at local events like the county fair and Chasco Fiesta will not be staffed because overtime will be cut.

Staff travel to seminars - key to adding popular services like teen-oriented programs -- will be cut too, Allen said.

On the shelves, the library system will continue to buy hardcover books, but not additional copies of popular books when the paperback version comes out.

And those could be the easy cuts. If voters approve deeper cuts as part of a Jan. 29 referendum, the county will have to close some libraries, Allen said.

"It's really going to be a matter of whether people want the service," she said, "or a little bit of money in their pockets."

David DeCamp can be reached at 727 869-6232 or ddecamp@sptimes.com

Proposed tax rate drops

Under the budget to be unveiled Tuesday, the owner of a $239,000 home would pay $100 less for next year's property taxes. That's assuming the owner had the home last year and took the $25, 000 homestead exemption. Taxes for schools and other agencies are not included. Here are the tax rates per $1,000 of property value:

Source: Pasco County Office of Management and Budget

[Last modified July 6, 2007, 22:20:24]