County approves budget, tax rate

By Times Staff Writer
Published September 11, 2007

DADE CITY -- County Commissioners on Monday night approved Pasco's tax rate and $1.2-billion budget for 2007-08 during the first of two public hearings on the plan. The proposed millage rate for the general fund is $5.43 per $1,000 of taxable property value. State-ordered tax cuts led to a $15.8-million hole in the county's spending plan.

After several public showdowns with the sheriff over his funding requests, as well as other cuts, officials made up most of that deficit. Pasco still faces a nearly $2-million shortfall that must be dealt with by the final budget hearing Sept. 25, although about half of that could be made up with savings from a hiring freeze that began this summer. Commissioners on Monday also adopted a $47 annual fee to be assessed on every homeowner to pay for drainage improvements. The new budget year begins Oct. 1.

[Last modified September 10, 2007, 21:38:44]