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Schools reopen, amid COVID concerns
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
The debate over whether masks will be required in Pasco County Schools is over, in Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning’s mind. “That issue has been settled.The governor (Gov. Ron DeSantis) has taken that issue on, as his issue.The governor has made that decision.There is no local decision-making
regarding masks.And, he has said there will not be a mask mandate. We understand that,” Browning said. The issue of quarantining people who have been exposed to COVID-19, however, is another matter. “I know there’s been a lot of questions about quarantining,” Browning said at the July 27 Pasco County School Board meeting. He told board members that he and members of his staff met with Mike Napier,
administrator for the Florida Department of Health-Pasco County, and members of Napier’s team. They discussed issues relating to COVID and the coming school year. “As far as quarantining goes, that was the main issue that staff wanted to talk about yesterday (during that meeting),” Browning said. See SCHOOLS, page 11A
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Dade City Council debates proposed rate, then adopts it By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
Dade City property owners won’t see an increase in their ad valorem tax rate for fiscal year 2021-2022. Despite a debate, the Dade City Commission voted 4-1 to adopt the tentative millage rate at 7.14 mills for fiscal year 2021-2022 — the same rate as it has been for several years. 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 has the option, however, to reduce the rate before then. At the rate of 7.14 mills, ad valorem tax revenues in the city’s general fund are anticipated to levy an estimated $2.3 million, an increase of slightly more than $262,000, up from this year’s $2 million budget. The breakdown of ad valorem revenues comes from the assessed value of the city’s 1,857 single-family homes, of which 1,231 have at least one exemption, according to city records. A mill represents $1 in tax for every $1,000 worth of a property’s taxable assessed value. The property tax on a home assessed at $95,000 at 7.14 mills would yield $678, for example. Public hearings on the proposed millage rate are scheduled for Sept. 15 and Sept. 27.
DEBATE ENSUES OVER TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE
Commissioners debated at length, during their July 27 meeting, before adopting the tentative rate. Dade City Manager Leslie Porter offered no staff recommendation, leaving the direction up to elected leaders. Mayor Pro Tem Jim Shive made a motion to set the tentative property tax rate at 7.14 mills, quickly seconded by Commissioner Normita Woodard. Then, Commissioner Knute Nathe opened up discussion. He advocated setting a higher millage, at 7.497 mills, to provide greater financial flexibility to fund various initiatives discussed during a preceding 90-minute budget workshop. See TAX, page 11A
B INSIDE, PAGE 1B
FRED BELLET
Training the next generation Shannon Saile, right, a national champion softball pitcher at the University of Oklahoma, speaks to a group of advanced pitchers during a water and shade break at her pitching clinic at the Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex softball field. See the story in Sports, page 12A.
Wearing a protective fielder's mask, 9-year-old Grace Peters, of Land O' Lakes, was ready to take her turn on the mound. Peters was among those in the intermediate division at the Shannon Saile Pitching Clinic.
Coach Charlie Aliano of the Cincinnati Reds lends some batting knowledge to 13-year old Olivia James, of New Port Richey. Aliano, of Land O' Lakes, assisted during the Shannon Saile Pitching Clinic.
Zephyrhills draft budget shows big jump By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
The City of Zephyrhills anticipates a roughly 24.5% increase over this year’s budget. The proposed budget for 2021-2022 draft is estimated at nearly $75.3 million. That compares to this year’s budget of roughly $60.5 million. The proposed budget also is significantly more than it was in the 2019-2020 and 2018-2019 fiscal years, which were approximately $66.3 million and $59.4 million, respectively. The city’s proposed budget is based on a 6.35 millage rate, assessed on taxable value of aggregate property of just over $946.6 million within the city. At that rate, it is expected to generate about $5.7 million in ad valorem revenues, based on a 95% collection rate. Within the proposed budget are anticipated leaps in the special revenue fund (estimated at slightly more than $13.1 million in the coming year, compared to about $7.2 million this year); the utility fund (estimated at nearly $22.8 million, up from slightly more than $16.4 million); and the utility impact fee fund (estimated at nearly $6.3 million, up from slightly more than $4.3 million), respectively. Estimates for other funds are similar to previous years. Those include the general fund, at slightly more than $15.6 million; the Community Redevelopment Agency fund, at nearly $800,000; the impact fee fund at slightly more than $6.1 million; the airport fund, at slightly more than $8.4 million and the sanitation fund at nearly $2 million.
City of Zephyrhills draft budget for fiscal year 2021-2020* Estimated total balanced budget: $75.3 Breakdown by fund • General fund: $15.6 million • Special revenue fund:$13.1 million • Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) fund: $880,000 • Impact fee fund: $6.1 million • Utility impact fee fund: $6.3 million • Utility fund: $22.8 million • Airport fund: $8.4 million • Sanitation fund: $2 million
* Figures are rounded
City Manager Billy Poe offered a comprehensive overview of the proposed budget to the Zephyrhills City Council, during its July 26 meeting. Public hearings on the proposed property tax rate and budget are scheduled for Sept. 13 and Sept. 27, both at 6 p.m., at Zephyrhills City Hall, 5335 Eighth St., Zephyrhills.
BIG-TICKET PROJECTS ABOUND
Poe during the meeting detailed some of the big-ticket items — including the multimillion expansion of the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis and Wellness Center, which comes in as the highest single-ticket item on the books.That project has a state appropriation of slightly less than $4.7 million.
The municipality received the state funds to construct additional outdoor hard tennis courts, as well as a 30,000-square-foot indoor tennis facility with the capability for other sports and activities, such as soccer, ping pong, banquets and ceremonies. The budget item drawing the greatest reaction from council members involves the Simons Road Phase II project, to finish roadwork linking Eiland Boulevard to Fort King Road. The project carries a price tag of $2.3 million, causing some council members to question its cost. The work — funded through transportation impact fees — calls for paving about 800 feet of roadway. That’s compared to Simons Road Phase I, which cost about $2.1 million, but required about 1.1 miles of roadwork. Phase I was completed in February 2020, paving Simons Road from Eiland Boulevard to the northern boundary of The Links at Silver Oaks. Phase II will continue from the Silver Oaks subdivision to Fort King Road, making a continuous link between Eiland Boulevard and Fort King Road, creating a north-south connector, providing residents on the north end of town another option to get onto Eiland Boulevard. The cost of phase II drew consternation from the dais. Councilman Lance Smith was quick to question the cost, as did Council President Alan Knight. Knight characterized the estimated cost as “almost ridiculous.” See BUDGET, page 11A