Thursday, May 23, 2013
The idea would have given the Pasco County Sheriff's Office responsibility for the service now provided by the state.
Gov. Rick Scott on Monday vetoed a bill that would have financed a closer look at a proposal for the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office to take over felony probation services in Pasco from the state Department of Corrections. The bill would have allocated $120,000 toward evaluating Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco’s takeover idea. In his budget announcement, he gave the following reason for the veto: “The following is vetoed because felony probation supervision is the statutory responsibility of the Department of Corrections. Consideration of alternative methods and structures should take place at a statewide level, as there are more than 115,000 felony offenders under supervision statewide." Nocco announced in February his proposal to take over …
Pasco County Commissioners want to explore the idea more closely.
Pasco County Commissioners want to look into a proposal to allow backyard chicken coops in residential areas. Commissioner Kathryn Starkey brought the issue up to the commission Tuesday morning, and commissioners directed staff to return to them later with more information, according to the Tampa Bay Times. An online petition expressing desire for an amendment to code that would allow chicken coops in residential areas has been circulating since last year. It was started by Holiday resident Michelle Howard and has received 645 signatures so far. Should Pasco allow backyard chicken coops? Share your ideas, Land O' Lakes, by commenting below!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Locals want to make their feelings known. What are yours?
Pasco County’s “gun show loophole” is still open, and there are still people unhappy about that. A small group of folks bearing signs with messages like “Close the Gun Show Loophole” and “Country Commissioners—We want Background Checks” showed up outside the County Commission chambers in New Port Richey Tuesday, May 21. Florida law requires licensed gun dealers to conduct background checks, but counties are allowed to craft gun show regulations. Currently folks can purchase firearm at a gun show in Pasco without a background check. Commissioners were going to have a public hearing at which residents could weigh in on a proposal to tighten the regulation of gun show sales. But they chose in March not to do so after hearing the counsel of a…
The Pasco County School Board appointed Aimee Boltze to fill the post vacated by beleaguered Principal Anna Falcone.
Connerton Elementary students don’t have to end the school year wondering who will sit in the principal’s office in August. The Pasco County School Board acted on Superintendent Kurt Browning’s recommendation to appoint Aimee Boltze to serve in the post formerly held by Anna Falcone. Approval for the permanent appointment came during the board’s May 21 meeting. Boltze has served as the interim principal of Connerton since Browning recommended the termination of Falcone earlier this year. That recommendation came on the heels of allegations that Falcone had violated confidentiality and acted insubordinately. “It was brought to my attention that Mrs. Falcone persisted in seeking confidential information after repeatedly being denied the …
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013
A series of town hall meetings kicks off Wednesday, May 22. The in-person meeting in Land O’ Lakes has been replaced by a virtual session that takes place online May 29.
Pasco County School Board members want to hear from Land O’ Lakes residents as the clock ticks down for them to set a budget for the 2013-14 school year. To get input from parents, students and others in the community, the board is playing host to a series of town hall meetings. The meetings are designed to give residents a chance to ask questions and share their suggestions. This is the first year in recent budget cycles board members won’t host an in-person meeting in Land O’ Lakes. That meeting is being replaced by an online session that takes place at the end of the month. The district is once again facing a multimillion dollar budget shortfall as it heads into next year. Estimates put that shortfall at about $23 million. The number …
Much of the credit for the county’s $50 million gain goes to the Land ‘O Lakes and Wesley Chapel areas.
Pasco County officials are reporting some good news when it comes to the area’s tax rolls. The county saw its property tax base grow by about $50 million over last year. That’s according to the Tampa Bay Times, which says overall the county logged about a ¼ of a percent in overall tax roll growth this year. The county’s property values as a whole come in around $19.3 billion. "There's nothing to get excited about anywhere,” Property Appraiser Mike Wells told the Times. "But at least Wesley Chapel and Land O' Lakes are on the plus side." The Tampa Tribune says the growth in tax roll numbers is a first for Pasco in five years. Even so, those numbers fall far short of the 2 percent growth that had been hoped for. Cities such as New Port …
Friday, May 17, 2013
As news about possible abuses of power on the federal level continues to break, we’d like to get your take about what’s been going on Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay residents who keep up with the headlines coming out of Washington, D.C., have likely found themselves scratching their heads more than a few times this past week. Allegations of wrongdoing seem to be coming at the speed of light as the Obama Administration fends off bad press about inappropriate targeting of Tea Party organizations by the Internal Revenue Service and possible wrongdoing in the handling of a national security leak. The IRS’ targeting of Tea Party groups centers around hassles these groups report experiencing while trying to apply for tax-exempt status prior to the 2012 election. The controversy even hit home as Bay area groups are now reporting that they were targeted, according to The Tampa Tribune. The kerfuffle…
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
The city of Sarasota just enacted a law aimed at getting motorists to turn down the volume. Now, other local governments are following suit. Should they?
Most of us have been in the car when a great tune comes on the radio. The urge to turn up that volume just a little bit is often too strong to resist. But, how loud is too loud? When is cranking it up going too far? When should authorities be able to step in and say enough is enough? Those are questions some local governments in the Tampa Bay area are now wrestling with. Since the Florida Legislature shot down a measure that would have regulated just how loud car stereos can be, some local authorities have decided to take matters into their own hands. The City of Sarasota just put its new ordinance into effect that makes it against the law for car stereos and portable electronic devices to emit sounds at a level that are considered “…
Monday, May 13, 2013
This interactive U.S. voting map shows who the Florida voters were in the 2012 presidential election. You may be surprised by the results.
A slightly greater percerntage of eligible Hispanic voters – 62.2 percent – turned out to cast ballots in the 2012 presidential election in Florida than white, non-Hispanic voters. And more eligible female voters went to the polls than men. The results are among several demographic mesaurements released by the U.S. Census showing the make-up of voters in Florida and across the United States. Just click on Florida on the map above to see the results. Darker green states had a higher percentage of turnout. If you click on an individual state, you will see percentages of eligible U.S. citizens who voted in that state broken down by gender, race and ethnic group. This information was released from from the US Census Bureau on Wednesday, May 8…
Friday, May 10, 2013
The Florida House and Senate recently approved a measure that would make driving slow in the fast lane punishable by a fine. Do you think this is a good idea?
Can’t handle traveling at the Interstate’s 70 mph pace or a local four-lane road’s legal top speed? You might want to get in the practice of moving over. The Florida House and Senate recently approved a measure that makes it illegal to drive more than 10 mph under the speed limit if your vehicle is riding in the fast lane. The proposal will become the law of the land in Florida if Gov. Rick Scott signs on the dotted line. Dubbed the “road rage” bill, according to ABC News, the measure would give law enforcement the right to fine drivers $60 for moving at a snail’s pace in the far left lane of any road that has two or more lanes. That means slow drivers who refuse to move over – often causing other motorists to lose their cool – would be …
ANNETTE NOACK
9:22 am on Saturday, May 25, 2013
I guess there are people that cannot find happiness unless they have something to complain about...enjoy your day....if you can. more ›