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Commission keeps budget in check
By JAMES THORNER
© St. Petersburg Times, NEW PORT RICHEY -- With a record jump in the tax base of about $1-billion, it looked to be a fat year for the Pasco County budgeteers. But you wouldn't know it from the calorie restrictions county commissioners imposed upon several departments Tuesday afternoon. The Pasco Sheriff's Office was placed on the strictest diet. Commissioners tentatively agreed to postpone by a year two new building projects to benefit deputies: a $784,000 forensics building in Land O'Lakes and a $1.7-million communications center in New Port Richey. The court system also took a hit. Commissioners suggested delaying the start of a $10-million expansion of the West Pasco Judicial Center. County budget officials said delaying these capital projects was the easiest way to help lop as much as $7-million from the $530-million budget proposed in July. Those reductions are necessary to keep the property tax rate at the current 9.13 mills. The 9.13 millage rate equals $9.13 per $1,000 of assessed property, or about $685 for a $100,000 house claiming the $25,000 homeowners exemption. This figure does not include taxes levied by the school district, municipalities and special taxing districts such as those for fire protection. Sheriff Bob White has requested $56-million to operate his department next year, a $3.3-million increase over this year. Commissioners are apt to give him most of what he requested. Not so for his building projects. The forensics building near the county jail in Land O'Lakes would consolidate offices in Dade City and New Port Richey. White also wants to relocate his communication center from Dade City to New Port Richey. Although White appeared before commissioners Tuesday to plead his case for the projects, saying residents demand good law enforcement, commissioners pointed out that delaying construction a year would make little difference. Architectural design of the buildings would consume most of next year. Money set aside for construction would likely remain untouched, County Administrator John Gallagher said. Commissioners also erased another $2-million from the proposed budget by dropping their 2001-2002 contribution to $4-million worth of new touch screen voting machines. The county plans to use a $500,000 grant from the state to make its first installment for the voting machines, a purchase forced upon the county by state decertification of its old punch-card voting system. Also at the budget session, commissioners proposed raising the taxpayer contribution to the Pasco Economic Development Council, the county's business recruitment arm. Most commissioners suggested giving the development council about $40,000 to $50,000 above this year's contribution of $250,000. That's about $100,000 less than the council wanted. Commissioner Pat Mulieri said attracting industry is the only way to significantly boost the county's tax base. "Unless we bring in industry we're going to be stuck with rooftops," Mulieri said. Commissioners plan to trim the proposed budget further at budget sessions in the next few weeks. The new spending plan takes effect on Oct. 1.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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