The LAKER
ee r F
LAND O’ LAKES EDITION
LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM
Auto Accident? Slip and Fall? FREE CONSULTATION
Homeowners to see dip in school taxes By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
The Pasco County School Board has given first-round approval to a proposed $1.2 billion budget that includes a slightly lower tax bill for homeowners. Under the proposed rate, the owner of a $125,000 home, after deducting the homestead exemption, would pay $677.30 in taxes. That’s $33.60 lower than the homeowner paid last year. School board members voted unanimously for the proposed budget, but won’t take final action on the proposed rate until a second and final hearing, set for 6 p.m., on Sept. 13.That hearing will be in the School Board Meeting Room, at 7227 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.
No Fees Or Costs Unless You Win HOLLIDAY KARATINOS LAW FIRM, P.L. HelpingInjuredPeople.com Call Attorney
JIM HOLLIDAY
AUGUST 17, 2016
B.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTO
Wiregrass Elementary School opened for the first time on Aug. 15.
While the budget has received firstround approval, school board members Steve Luikart and Alison Crumbley said
there need to be some changes. “It is a work in progress,” Luikart said. “We’re identifying some of the areas that we have needs in,” he said, noting he was in a meeting with district staff to discuss how to move some funding to provide additional support for some of the district’s lowerfunctioning schools. The district also needs to take action to address its graduation rate, which slipped, Luikart said. “Those are two priorities,” he said.“We’ve got to do whatever it is that we have to change.” It could mean adding more staff or providing some new curriculum to address the needs, he said. See TAXES, page 11A
813-868-1887 “I Will Aggressively Fight To Protect Your Legal Rights” 18920 N. Dale Mabry Hwy Ste 101 Lutz, FL (Corner of Sunlake & Dale Mabry)
Walk-Ins Welcome
Your Local Real Estate & Property Management Experts B.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTO
Ed McKinney, district planning and environmental administrator for District 7 of the Florida Department of Transportation, explains why express lanes are needed to relieve regional congestion.
DennisRealty.com
Tampa Bay Express aims to address region’s congestion
DennisPM.com
By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
The proposed $3.3 billion Tampa Bay Express project has its critics – especially in areas near downtown Tampa, but it’s a project that’s needed to help relieve regional congestion, according to Ed McKinney, district planning and environmental administrator for District 7 of the Florida Department of Transportation. “Currently,Tampa/St. Pete ranks seventh in the country for cities of its size for conLK/LZ
Service the Way it Oughta Be!
FREE
SERVICE CALL W/ REPAIR* A/C, Plumbing or Electrical LK/LZ
*M-f 7aM-7pM. if work not perforMed, service fee appLies.
$39.95 A/C OR PLUMBING CHECK-UP Must present coupon. LiMited tiMe offer. #CFC1428982
#CAC1816647
#EC0001103
Air Conditioning • Plumbing • Electrical
CORNERSTONEPROS.COM
813-949-4445
B INSIDE, PAGE 1B
gestion,” McKinney said. “I don’t have to tell you all, if you’ve driven around the area, we’ve got a lot of congestion, and that hurts us in a lot of ways,” McKinney said, during a recent luncheon meeting of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. “It hurts us when it comes to attracting new businesses. It hurts us mostly when it comes to attracting new residents,” he said. People moving into the area want to know that they’ll be able to get to work or wherever they need to go, without being
stuck in traffic for a half-hour, he said. The problem is only going to get worse, as the region’s population increases and more jobs are created, he added. “In Pasco County, population is expected to grow 97 percent by 2040,” he said. Hillsborough County is expected to grow by 48 percent, and Polk County by 41 percent during the same period. “Pasco County is expected to grow employment by 200 percent, and that’s huge,” he said.Those workers won’t all be coming from Pasco County, he said.They’ll be heading to Pasco from Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, too. “People are going to go where the jobs are. That’s what we’re seeing,” McKinney said. See EXPRESS, page 11A
Fifth-graders learning how to lead at Oakstead Elementary By Kevin Weiss
kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
Just before the school year began, fifthgraders at Oakstead Elementary School took some training on how to be school leaders. Teachers, administrators and support staff organized an “Oakstead Elementary Leadership Retreat” which was held on Aug. 4.This is the second year in a row that the school has had the half-day retreat. Throughout the morning, fifth-graders took part in several team-building activities, which included analyzing leadership personality traits along the way. They also learned about many qualities that it takes to become a leader — openmindedness, integrity, authenticity, generosity and responsibility. “Our big focus is to make them think more like, ‘Hey, I’m the leader, I’m setting the example,’ instead of ‘I’m done with this place,’” explained Sandra Stine, an assistant principal at Oakstead. By the time they reach fifth grade, she explained, some students are anxious to begin middle school. After last year’s retreat, Stine noted, many fifth-graders were “more excited” heading into the school year.The school dished out See OAKSTEAD, page 11A
KEVIN WEISS/STAFF PHOTO
Oakstead Elementary fifth-graders had to use teamwork and communication for several activities, including the ‘Balloon Train.’ Groups had to line up single-file, and reach a finish line with balloons linked to one another — without using their hands.