By Jodie Tillman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
DADE CITY — Commissioners on Tuesday abandoned a preliminary proposal to raise the county tax rate by 22 cents per $1,000 in taxable value, deciding to ratchet down that increase rather than squirrel away the money it would have generated for next year.
"The citizens trust us to make the decisions," said Commissioner Ted Schrader. "It's their money."
The plan to raise the general fund tax rate earlier this summer gave officials a nearly $4.4 million reserve. They used some of that to restore a position in the veterans services office, keep Centennial Library open, and add back positions in the elderly nutrition department and social services.
That left them with about $4.3 million, plus a $823,000 rebate check from Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative. Commissioners decided Tuesday to move about $2 million of that into a hurricane reserve account.
The remainder will go toward reducing the proposed tax increase. County budget director Mike Nurrenbrock estimated it would cut 15 cents off the 22-cent hike — leaving just a slight increase in the current rate.
Commissioners also voted 4-1 to impose new fees of $2 per vehicle at 11 county parks. Commissioner Jack Mariano dissented, saying he didn't think the new fees were worth the hassle to residents.
"A fee is a tax," he said.
"But only if you choose it," said Schrader.
Annual passes will also be available for $60. The fees will go in place in October.
The hope is that the new parking fees, plus increased camping charges and other costs, will raise enough money to offset a drop in property tax revenue. Parks officials say the funding gap would otherwise leave them with no choice but reduce the number of days the parks are open.
The new fees come on the heels of similar measures in other counties, including Hillsborough.
Pasco officials project they could collect $876,290 through those fees and others, based on prior traffic counts at the parks and participation rates.
Investing in the new fee collection system is expected to cost about $33,000. That includes parking meters at the larger parks, which have electricity, and an honor system setup, where visitors put their fee in an envelope, at the smaller parks.
The affected parks include Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, Anclote River Park, Anclote Gulf Park, Crews Lake Park, Withlacoochee River Park , Suncoast Parkway Trail Head, Eagle Point Park, Moon Lake Park, Robert K. Rees Park, Key Vista Nature Park and Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park, which is better known as Hudson Beach.
Jodie Tillman can be reached at jtillman@sptimes.com or (727) 869-6247.