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© St. Petersburg Times, published September 1, 2000
Editor: There are certain to be questions regarding the recent property tax statement that many of us received in Pasco County. There are two columns on the form indicating last year's market value and this year's market value of our property. The market value of some properties has increased, which is good news for Pasco's tax base as well as the property owner.
Some property values go down each and every year, have you wondered why? Realtors as well as the tax people do what is called a comparison in which they compare our home to similar homes and their selling prices within a specified radius of your property.
You may keep your home in tiptop shape and still see its value go down. Why? Consider this, some property owners do not take the pride that you do in maintaining property, you may or may not have deed restrictions in your neighborhood or even worse the ones you do have are not being enforced, or perhaps some county ordinances are not being enforced by the county or code enforcement.
A study by the University of Houston Center for Public Policy estimates that property values in a subdivision with an inactive homeowner's association can fall as much as 40 percent due to failure to enforce restrictions. To illustrate, multiply an average home price of $50,000 times the number of lots in an average subdivision of 250 homes. This yields a total property value of $12.5-million. This is the value of the assets that homeowner's associations should be trying to protect. If that property value is reduced by 40 percent, the homeowners in the neighborhood lose $5-million. This translates into a loss of $20,000 per home. Obviously this is a disaster.
Even worse, think about living in a subdivision that deteriorated that badly! Even if home prices only lose 10 percent in value due to a moderate failure to enforce deed restrictions, homeowners lose $1.25-million translating into a $5,000 per home loss. These losses affect Realtors commissions as well as the tax base.
Pasco County are you listening? That kind of loss is simply unacceptable and completely unnecessary. Failure to enforce community rules and ordinances is like allowing a bacterial infection to go unchecked. At first it may appear to be a small problem, but it soon spreads and becomes chronic.
-- Dennis Whetstone, Hudson
Re: Newspaper creates a non-story, Aug. 29 letter
Editor: I find it interesting that the city attorney would not find it inappropriate that practically a full council (Council member Pat Guttman was not in attendance) inclusive of the city attorney and city manager can be found together at a bar after a council meeting.
For those that are unaware, that very night at the council meeting, City Attorney Paul Marino's supplied contract extension, with more than a 20 percent increase in pay and no definable cancellation clause, was on the agenda. One thing about Mr. Marino's letter to the Times that I do agree with is when he refers to the citizens of Port Richey, "They are too smart for that."
Not all of what is going on in the city is negative, but there seems to be a strong underlying current which is prohibiting good government. Look at some of the tapes of past meetings of this council and any time you have an opportunity please attend future meetings. Your awareness of this council's actions are needed. Do not let wholesale government wheeling and dealing go unchecked.
-- Jim Priest, Port Richey
Editor: How dare the Times report such a despicable display of bias nonsense. The watchdog role the Times is taking on is ridiculous and limited to only the city of Port Richey. When was the last time they stalked another city's council in the interest of public welfare?
The Times must be admonished for its inaccuracy, intrusiveness, unfairness, and sensationalism! If this scrutiny of political leaders continues it will surely prevent them from doing their jobs, and even more devastating, eliminate the best and the brightest from even becoming involved. The only reward in serving your local government is knowing that you are making a difference. It is certainly not the $180 a month the mayor of Port Richey receives.
If the Times has any genuine interest in what is best for the people, it would stop distorting the truth by reporting unfair bias stories, and restrain its shallow spin doctor reporters from chasing stories that are only intent on promoting the candidates of their choice! It is easy to declare war when you have gallons full of ink and favor one side. It is clear the Times lacks the integrity to assist the public in making well-informed decisions about its future representatives. My question is, can a fair election actually be held in the city of Port Richey in the absence of credible press?
-- Laura Ludy, New Port Richey
Editor: The following are questions that I would like to pose to the candidates for Pasco County Commissioner races. I feel that these are much more important to the health and welfare of our county than the issues currently being discussed in their campaigns:
How do you plan to create an "action" economy rather than the existing "reaction" economy?
Will you insist that secondary and higher education be geared to high tech job market?
How do you plan to deal with the rapidly failing infrastructure in established communities? Basic services are the residents primary concern and we're not getting them.
How do you intend to promote and assure whole community involvement in the planning and operation of the county wide community?
How do you plan to attract jobs that are clean and pro-action?
What will you do to reduce the amount of "strip development" along arterial auto routes?
Also, for the sheriff's race:
How will you assure that the community feels not only safe, but cared for by your deputies (i.e., the simple act of sweeping up broken glass and other debris from auto accidents can reduce greatly the need for motorists to have to replace tires)?
-- Diane Wheeler McConnell, Port Richey
Re: Sheriff's election puts focus on schools, Aug. 27
Editor: It appears that the present and previous sheriffs are both claiming authorship of the School Resource Officer program. I would like to set the record straight. In the late 1970s, I was one of the first school liaison officers in a program which was renamed School Resource Officer. This program and others including the Cadet program, dive team, SWAT, anti-burglary squad, bike patrol, motorcycle unit, special traffic enforcement program and the K-9 unit were all initiated during the 1970s and under the command of Gil Thivener, then major of operations.
Next time you hear the sheriff or his predecessor lay claim to the above programs, you will know the truth.
-- Charles McCrady, Hudson
Editor: Recently I received a telephone survey request involving the three Republican candidates for the office of Sheriff. The questions asked were general in nature about the wheres and nots of each candidate.
One question asked "What is your race?" I consider this question completely out of line and having no bearing on the survey.
Now, I have a question, was this survey including the subject of race approved by the candidates and/or the Pasco County Republican Party? By the way, I am a registered, white Republican.
-- George A. Montgomery, New Port Richey
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