TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Window On Pasco

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 31, 2008

State Cuts Funding For Community Organizations

Community organizations hoping to cash in on state funding will have to look elsewhere, members of the Pasco County Legislative Delegation have warned.

The annual delegation meeting, scheduled for Jan. 23 at the West Pasco Government Center, is usually when community groups and local governments ask the county's state representatives and senators for funds.

In the past, the money has been used for construction projects and one-time expenses.

Last year, community budget requests totaled about $1 billion statewide, most of it coming from the general fund. That list included $5 million for economic development in Pasco County.

This year, though, the leadership in Tallahassee has made it clear: There is no money for community budget requests.

"Certainly, we'd all love to have the CBR process as a viable option," said Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel. "It's going to be a tough year."

In fact, the electronic system by which legislators file such requests has been shut down entirely, said state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, who chairs the delegation this year.

"If it wasn't funded last year, it's not being funded this year," he said.

Pet Owners Urged To Combat Distemper

Following an outbreak of distemper in Tommytown and downtown Dade City, Pasco County Animal Services officials are urging pet owners to get their dogs inoculated against the potentially fatal disease.

The recent outbreak covered about four square miles in northeast Pasco County.

The disease was discovered in several dogs tested by the county in October, said John Malley, assistant manager for Animal Services.

The county has alerted local veterinarians to be on the lookout for other distemper cases, Malley said.

Distemper is carried by wild animals, such a raccoons, foxes and coyotes. It can be transferred to unvaccinated dogs running at large, Malley said.

Dogs infected with the distemper virus will develop a cough that can quickly turn into a fatal case of pneumonia.

Distemper is a common part of the vaccination packages domestic dogs receive, but it's not required as part of licensing a dog.

Cypress Creek Town Center Construction May Continue

Federal environmental regulators said they're considering re-issuing the suspended development permit for Cypress Creek Town Center, where construction was halted in February after repeated Clean Water Act violations.

In the meantime, mall developers say the 10-month suspension, coupled with the economic downturn, has forced them to renegotiate leases and reconsider their tenant mix. They also will have to rebid construction contracts on the project, spokeswoman Deanne Roberts said.

The public notice for the re-issued permit was released Tuesday by the Army Corps of Engineers. The revised permit will be open for public comment until Jan. 15.

In spite of the shutdown, the mall's developers - the Cleveland-based Richard E. Jacobs Group and Sierra Properties of Tampa - have spent most of this year meeting their county-mandated obligation to widen State Road 54 as part of their deal to build the 502-acre project, which straddles State Road 56 on the west side of Interstate 75. That work, which will expand the road to six lanes, is set to end Dec. 31.

The Army Corps suspended the development permit for Cypress Creek Town Center Feb. 1 after heavy rain in January caused muddy water to overflow a retention pond and pollute Cypress Creek. The creek forms the western and southern borders of the mall site.

The overflow was the second major failure in the project's stormwater management system in a year, prompting outcry from opponents and a stiff response from regulators.

The Army Corps and the developers are still negotiating penalties for the pollution, said Tom Farrell, an inspector with the Corps' Tampa office.

The re-issued permit reflects minor changes in the boundaries of the joint project by Jacobs and Sierra. The boundary changes reflect land the developers have given for road widening and a more accurate assessment of the high-water mark for Cypress Creek.

In the public notice, Army Corps officials said their decision to re-issue the wetland permit will depend on how well the developers convince them the defects that caused the flooding problems have been fixed.

School District Reveals Plan To Tackle Budget Shortfalls
Pasco County School District officials say they have figured out ways to cover the current $8.7 million budget shortfall and much of the $10 million to $15 million shortfall the district could face after the Legislature's special session in January.

Superintendent Heather Fiorentino told the school board during a recent workshop that avoiding layoffs has been a priority.

"We have been able to do that," she said.

Two board members expressed concern, though, that the district isn't preparing for a worst-case scenario. The Legislature plans to meet in a special session Jan. 5 through 16 to deal with a statewide revenue shortage and school districts have been told to expect additional budget cuts of about 2 to 3 percent.

For Pasco, that translates to about $10 million to $15 million. Fiorentino and Olga Swinson, the district's chief finance officer, presented the school board cost-cutting recommendations that total about $8 million to help defray some of the cuts the Legislature might make in January.

Fiorentino and Swinson said all department budgets will be reviewed in early January to find additional areas to cut. Swinson said as a last resort, the district might consider dipping into reserve funds.

Board members Allen Altman and Joanne Hurley, though, said they would have liked to see a list of recommended cuts that totaled at least $15 million. That way, Altman said, the district would be better prepared if the worst happens with the Legislature. If the number comes in lower, he said, the board simply wouldn't make the cuts at the bottom of the list.

Altman said he feared the district could end up scrambling if the cuts in January reach $15 million and the board doesn't have a clear plan. He also was worried because one of the staff's suggestions - saving $4.2 million by using capital funds to pay for property insurance - would require Department of Education approval.

"I'm extremely concerned we are going to be behind the eight-ball," Altman said.

Fiorentino and Swinson said they expect to have more specific recommendations for the board in January. The board has another budget workshop Jan. 20.

Meanwhile, the board members appeared more satisfied with the plan for dealing with the district's current shortfall, which was nearly $8.7 million as of Nov. 11.

Swinson presented a list of recommendations that cover the entire amount.

"Every single line of the budget got looked at again the last couple of weeks," Swinson said.

A hiring freeze and a drop in fuel prices are among the many ways the district is saving money.

Spring sports won't be eliminated, but the district plans to save money by using a portion of the participation fees to help with the cost of football, baseball and softball. Those fees traditionally pay for insurance.

Tentative Teacher Contract Agreement Reached

After six months of negotiations, the Pasco County School District and the United School Employees of Pasco have reached a tentative contract agreement.

Under the proposed contracts, salaries for teachers and other school workers would be stuck at their 2007-08 levels. There would be no raises or step increases, although employees would be given a year of credit for their service.

"This is the 11th contract negotiation I've been in charge of, and it's probably the least favorable settlement we've had," said Lynne Webb, president of the school worker's union.

Both sides agree the school district's dire financial situation could get worse before it gets better.

The contracts - one for instructional employees and one for other school workers - still must be ratified by the employees and approved by the school board. That process won't happen until after the school district's winter break.

Under the agreement, the school district will continue funding health benefits for employees, which will include paying a $191 increase in cost per employee. Employees will pay to insure family members.

The district and the union also agreed to create a budgetary committee that they hope will make future negotiations run more smoothly.

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT