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Fewer resources, tighter budget
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Pasco County is estimating a $5.7 million hit to its general fund this fiscal year, due to impacts from the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, according to County Administrator Dan Biles. Biles shared that projection during the Pasco County Commission’s virtual board meeting on May 5 . “We think we have a plan in place to be within that revenue within the next six
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months, from an expense standpoint,” Biles said. “We sat down over the last couple of weeks and went through some various options to, I will say, restrict spending in the general fund over the next several months, as we get a better handle on what our revenues will be in the general fund. The specific departments that are being hit outside the general fund, like gas tax, transportation trust fund, tourism — are all working their specific plans to make sure they can manage with the revenue they ex-
pect to come in, the reduced revenue. “From a general fund perspective, we’re putting in place what I will call a ‘soft hiring freeze.’ “If you need a person and you can justify that person up to your assistant county administrator level, then we can still go through the process of hiring that position. It’s not a hard freeze. “There are some places where it still makes sense to hire that position, dependSee BUDGET, page 11A
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Working through a pandemic While some workers have been forced to stay at home by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order, others have continued working because their jobs are deemed to be essential. Here’s a look at some of the work that’s been going on across The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. Above, Miguel Hernandez secures shingles to a new structure on State Road 54, at Stonewood Professional Park in Land O’ Lakes. Hernandez, who lives in Dade City, has worked for Imperial Roofers for 12 years.
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INSIDE, PAGE 1B
Over the road driver Anthony Forrest, age 55, from Houston, Texas, fuels his semi tractor at the Flying J Travel in Dade City. He was on his way back to Houston last month, after picking up a load of plastics from Tampa.
Debbie Barthle, of St. Joseph, stops by a fresh produce stand operated by Vernon Jones, on Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel. The stand has been busy, Jones said.
Malls open slowly, cautiously Small businesses
reopen in Pasco
By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
Rose Rich sipped a cool drink as she shared a bench out of the sun at The Shops at Wiregrass. Her 19-year-old grandson, Chandler Estes, and Estes’ girlfriend, 18-year-old Jayda Warchesik, were on a visit from Texas. “We’re out for an adventure,” Rich said. Estes and Warchesik hoped to find bathing suits for a trip to the beach, but were out of luck. They found few shops open. The trio was among the first customers to explore Pasco County malls after weeks of homebound isolation and shuttered shops. Effective May 4, Gov. Ron DeSantis gave the all-clear to at least some commercial activity to get the economy reopened amid the ongoing coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Mall operators, business owners and customers moved cautiously into uncharted territory. Many stores remained closed during the first days of lifted restrictions. Crowds of shoppers didn’t materialize. But, as additional stores open, and with a weekend approaching, more shoppers were anticipated.
By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
“We expected to have a slow opening, said Greg Lenners, general manager for The Shops at Wiregrass. “Various stores have their own protocols for ramping up. We’re off to a good start with the number of stores open.” He estimated about one-quarter of Wiregrass shops had opened, evenly split among restaurants and retail. Even during the shutdown, restaurants stayed open for takeout orders, with curbside pickup, Lenners said.
Only four people at a time can browse through Quilts on Plum Lane. But, at least that’s a new beginning for a shop that has a long tradition in downtown Dade City. Donna Lillibridge has been selling fabric, patterns and quilt kits for nearly 17 years. The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID19) pandemic has thrown small businesses, such as this one, for a loop. “This is something I’ve never seen in my life,” Lillibridge said.“There are a lot of great uncertainties.” But, Lillibridge, along with other small business owners across Pasco County, are reopening their doors and waiting to see what comes next. Since mid-March stores closed under an executive order by Gov. Ron DeSantis aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19, a deadly virus that has been cited for claiming nearly 79,000 lives across the nation. DeSantis announced a phased-in restart
See MALLS, page 11A
See SMALL, page 11A
KATHY STEELE
Jerry Cugno, owner of a chain of spas, is happy with his purchase from AtHome, at Tampa Premium Outlets.