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Tampa and Hillsborough County officials racing to annex two exploding communities in New Tampa.
By MICHAEL SANDLER
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 29, 2001
TAMPA -- Two of the fastest-growing communities in Hillsborough County are at the center of a bidding war between the city and county.
Soon after representatives from the Pebble Creek and Cross Creek communities inquired about the price of being annexed into Tampa, city officials began calculating what it might cost homeowners.
County calculators got busy, too.
Pebble Creek and Cross Creek residents can expect to pay at least $200 and up to $252 or more in property and utility taxes if they are annexed, said Eric Johnson, Hillsborough's budget director. The New Tampa residents also would pay more for long distance phone calls, Johnson said.
"I knew it would cost them more to be part of Tampa than to be part of the unincorporated part," said Johnson, who is scheduled to present his findings at Wednesday's County Commission meeting.
The county began crunching numbers after receiving a letter from Ron Rotella, the mayor's consultant on development, saying the subdivisions were considering annexation.
According to census data released this week, the population in that area tripled from about 2,300 people in 1990 to 6,900 in 2000.
A growing number of households provide a larger tax base and more revenue for whichever municipality governs them. Tampa and Hillsborough also are looking at Live Oak in unincorporated Hillsborough, another potential acquisition and source of revenue.
Live Oak sits on 1,250 acres north of Pebble Creek. The county has approved plan for up to 1,599 homes and a golf course on the property, but the St. Lucie Development Corp. has been negotiating with Rotella, the city's representative, for several months.
Pebble Creek and Cross Creek are surrounded on three sides by city property and the addition of Live Oak would create an island of county property surrounded by city land. Annexed land must be contiguous with city land and cannot create enclaves, according to state requirements.
Rotella said the two communities came to the city complaining of high water bills and poor service.
"It was Peeble Creek and Cross Creek that approached us," said Rotella. "We are running some numbers. We'll get back with them when we are finished, and then it's their call."
Mike Carricato, president of the Pebble Creek Homeowners Association, and three other residents met privately with Rotella in January to discuss annexation. He subsequently sent a letter signed by all five homeowners association presidents to Mayor Dick Greco inquiring about annexation. Carricato included utility bills from a select group, but never formally contacted Pebble Creek residents.
Rotella faxed that letter to Pat Frank, chairman of the Hillsborough County Commission, on Feb. 9 as part of an agreement to notify the county of impending annexations.
"Although Mr. Carricato's letter is certainly not an annexation petition, we thought it appropriate to share with the county this very preliminary correspondence," Rotella wrote.
Johnson, Hillsborough's budget director, contacted Carricato this month and requested copies of those utility bills. Using them, Johnson said he determined that residents could expect to pay up to $150 more in property tax, and up to $130 more in utility taxes, depending on where they live. They could also expect to pay a 7-percent tax the city imposes on all long distance calls in Florida. Hillsborough County does not charge for intrastate calls, he said.
"What I came up with was a low ball in the terms of the additional cost," said Johnson, "because I don't know how much those people spend on long distance calls in the state of Florida."
Rotella said the city is close to finishing its study and that residents can expect a 25 percent reduction in water bills. Tampa charges non-residents 25 percent more for water.
Carricato said many residents have asked him what annexation could mean. He expects to meet with Rotella soon to hear the city's findings.
"They are still working on the numbers, as is the county," he said. "Until the city reports, I have nothing to tell the residents. We are just kind of waiting. Until we get down with Ron and go through this, anything is speculation."
-- Michael Sandler can be reached at (813) 226-3472 or sandler@sptimes.com.