August Update from Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore

I hope you all had a wonderful July with friends and family. Congratulations to Avalon Park Wesley Chapel on another successful Fourth of July celebration! People came from all over the region to attend the great event that continues to celebrate the founding of our country.

Vaccine rollout is continuing with all Floridians of age now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Please check out the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County’s website at pasco. floridahealth.gov for all the latest information.

On July 16th, I spoke at the topping off ceremony for BayCare’s new hospital in Wesley Chapel. This is a traditional ceremony for the construction industry to celebrate the highest point in a building being put in place. I’m excited about the jobs this project has already created, with hundreds of construction jobs right now and 220 full time jobs when it opens in 2023. The new BayCare Wesley Chapel hospital will provide more opportunities for quality local jobs and another great healthcare option in our area!

On July 28th, Pulte Homes Built to Honor Program and non-profit Operation Finally Home recognized Army Sergeant Javier Torres and his family with a new mortgage free home in Land O’ Lakes. Sergeant Torres was wounded in Afghanistan while serving our nation. These ceremonies are always emotional, and I am proud Pasco County is a community that supports our veterans!

I had the honor of participating in Spectrum’s In Focus program on the economic impact of sports in Florida. I was thrilled to talk about all the amazing things happening in Pasco County as we are Florida’s Sports Coast. You can watch the program by searching for Spectrum’s In Focus program on July 25th or by clicking here if you are reading the digital version of this newsletter.

Our tourism industry is continuing to rebound. I’m thrilled to let you know we set a June record for room occupancy in Pasco County! Through May 2021, Pasco tourist development tax revenue for the year is up about four percent over the record-breaking 2019. The tourist development tax is what visitors pay on temporary lodging such as hotel stays. In 2019, visitors’ impact on the economy saved the average Pasco household $310 in taxes. This is a great testament to our Destination Management Organization team at Florida’s Sports Coast and our venues. This is great news for our local economy as visitors shop in our stores, eat in our local restaurants and stay in our hotels.

Congratulations to the Tampa Bay Lightning for winning their second consecutive Stanley Cup during July! The team is a great community partner with Pasco County. Make sure to check out the Lightning street hockey rink at Wesley Chapel District Park!

Please check out Pasco County’s website at MyPasco.net for all the latest information. Remember, we will continue to get through this by working together!

About: Commissioner Mike Moore represents District 2 on the Pasco County Commission. He lives in Wesley Chapel with his wife and three children.