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Growth puts squeeze on schools
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
As Pasco County Schools heads into another school year, crowded conditions are expected on several campuses within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. District officials are projecting that Wesley Chapel’s Wiregrass Ranch High School will operate at 141 percent of its capacity, with an estimated 2,310 students in a school designed for 1,633. Connerton Elementary School, in Land
O’ Lakes, meanwhile, is projected to be at 120 percent of its capacity — with an anticipated 918 students at a school built for 762. Other schools expecting big crowds are: • John Long Middle, projected at 123 percent of its capacity, with an expected 1,635 students at school designed for 1,327 • Thomas Weightman Middle, projected at 116 percent of its capacity, with an expected 1,130 students at a school designed for 975 • Cypress Creek Middle High, projected at 114 percent of its capacity, with an ex-
pected 953 students, in a space designed for 834 Chris Williams, the school district’s director of planning, outlined the district’s projected average daily memberships for 2019-2020 during a workshop with the Pasco County School Board last week. Williams said a new Cypress Creek Middle School, expected to open in fall 2020, will provide relief for the area’s middle schools and Wiregrass Ranch High See SCHOOLS, page 11A
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CHRISTINE HOLTZMAN
Celebrating the Apollo 11 lunar landing, Lego-style The New River Branch Library hosted an all-day, Lego build-a-thon on July 20, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, which occurred on July 20, 1969. A special edition lunar module Lego kit, containing 1,087 pieces, as well as several smaller kits, were available for all ages. The library, at 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, often holds special events for youths. Above, three teens that volunteer at the New River Branch Library build a replica lunar module out of Legos. From left, 17year-old Malcolm Lewis, 17year-old Marlon Torres and 17-year-old Jori Ndrita, all of Wesley Chapel. At left, 17year-old Malcolm Lewis, of Wesley Chapel, uses the instruction manual to help guide him, while he constructs the landing gear of the Lego lunar module.
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Dade City sets tentative millage rate lakerlutznews.com
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By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
Dade City residents will not see an increase in their property tax rate for the coming year. Dade City Commissioners unanimously voted 5-0 on July 23 to set the tentative millage rate at 7.14 mills — the same rate as last year. Under state law, once a tentative millage rate has been set, the city cannot raise it before the start of the fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.The commission does, however, have the option to reduce the rate before then. At the tax rate of 7.14 mills, ad valorem tax revenues in the city’s general fund are anticipated to decrease by $40,850 for the 2019-2020 fiscal year, according to Dade City Manager Leslie Porter.
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The Dade City Commission set the 20192020 tentative millage rate at 7.14 mills, the same property tax rate as last fiscal year.
Because of that, Porter recommended the commission choose a higher tentative tax rate “to allow us the flexibility as we see what comes into the budget.” The recommendation included the rollback rate of 7.3297, which Porter said would result in a $50,000 swing and thus increase ad valorem revenues in the general fund by about $10,000 compared to 7.14 mills. The rollback rate is the millage rate that would collect an equivalent level of ad valorem taxes in the next fiscal year as in the current fiscal year. Traditionally, the commission has voted to use the rollback rate as the proposed millage, while instructing city staff to set a lower rate for the fiscal year. However, that was a non-starter for comSee MILLAGE, page 11A