Monday, May 6, 2013
County officials will be holding a series of meetings to gain community insight.
The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners will host three community meetings to discuss several topics including the county's strategic plan through 2017, the current budget, and road maintenance needs. The meetings will also give citiznes a chance to share their opinions and ideas about the state of the county's affairs, according to the county's website. The meetings are in conjunction with an online survey that will be launched this summer. The Board of County Commissioners will use the opinions and ideas shared during these meetings and from surveys to assist with upcoming budget decisions. The community meetings currently scheduled are: • Tuesday, May 7, 6:30 p.m. at the Historic Court House, Board Room, Dade City • Monday, May …
Monday, February 11, 2013
The county has a new strategic plan that lays out four main objectives. Do you agree with the priorities the commission has set?
Pasco Commissioners last week approved a plan that outlines priorities for the county to pursue over the next five years. The county’s 2013-17 strategic plan is a roadmap of sorts, meant to guide staff and commission actions toward specific goals. The county has laid out four “strategic objectives” for the coming years. We’d like to know what Land O' Lakes residents think about them. Here are the objectives, according to the county’s website: Do you think the county’s priorities are straight? Do you think Pasco can achieve its goals? What improvements would you like to see made between now and 2017? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Friday, January 25, 2013
While nearby counties explore options for creating a registry for same-sex partners, Pasco County Commissioners have yet to take up the issue.
As some Bay area counties move forward with plans to give same-sex partners more freedom to make medical and financial decisions for each other, Pasco County has yet to consider the issue. Commissioner Pat Mulieri said on Thursday, the same day nearby Hillsborough was considering its options, that Pasco hasn't had the issue arise. While Hillsborough Commissioners ultimately voted 4-3 against creating a Domestic Partnership Registry during their Jan. 24 meeting, other nearby counties and cities have adopted registries already. In Hillsborough, the registry idea was proposed by Commissioner Mark Sharpe. "As a citizen who lives in this county and as tax payer aren't they owed the respect and right to have these six basic rights and services …
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
The county offers free recycling services for live Christmas trees.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Greencastle at Bayonet Point is the first property in the county certified under the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Florida Water Star program at the community level.
Greencastle of Bayonet Point, a government-subsidized senior housing apartment complex, has been “going green," and it’s getting recognized for its efforts. The Southwest Florida Water Management District announced recently that Greencastle, 11722 La Madera Blvd., is the first property in Pasco County to be certified under its Florida Water Star program at the "Community" level. Florida Water Star is a voluntary certification program aimed at improving water efficiency. It’s available for builders, developers and homeowners and has residential, commercial and "community" level ratings. The Community level is for community wide projects. “It’s going to save you money,” Robin Grantham, a district spokeswoman, said of the program. “And it’s …
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Some court records are easier to access after launching the first phase of a $6.4 million project to update and consolidate court documents recently.
Users are closer to having easier access to some online public records with the launch of the first part of a multi-million dollar program that updates and consolidates the Pinellas/Pasco Courts’ online case management system. Clerks, judges, court staff, other employees and users can access Civil and Family Division case files online through a $6.4 million program called the Justice Consolidated Case Management System, which recently launched. Other court divisions will be added over time. Other changes to the system also include dropping the subscriber fee for records starting Oct. 1. “The application moves us closer to a paper-on-demand court system, by getting all of our case records and files into a digital format,” Chief Judge …
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Government offices, courts, rec centers and animal services will be closed Monday.
Pasco County Government offices, including the constitutional offices and the courts, will be closed on Monday. All government offices and the courts will reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 4. The Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office will be closed on Saturday, Sept. 1 and Monday, Sept. 3. The office will reopen on Tuesday. All Pasco County Libraries will reopen to the public at their regular operating hours on Tuesday. Pasco County Recreation Centers will be closed; however, the parks and beaches will remain open to the public from dawn to dusk. Pasco County Animal Services: The Pasco County Animal Services Administration Office, Adoption Center, Intake/Reclaim Shelter and Field Services will be closed on Monday Sept. 3 and reopen on Tuesday, Sept. …
Friday, August 10, 2012
The county was recognized for adopting the mobility fee to pay for new roads, sidewalks and transit.
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Friday, August 10, 2012
Pasco County recently was awarded the 1000 Friends of Florida's Better Community Award for adopting the mobility fee to pay for new roads, sidewalks and transit, according to a press release. The award was presented at the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 7, in Dade City. "Pasco County is to be commended for taking important steps to direct growth away from undeveloped areas and toward urban centers while providing its citizens with more transportation options," 1000 Friends President and CEO Charles Pattison said in the release. "The Pasco mobility fee is a funding source and growth management/economic development tool, and supports larger County strategies," Pasco County's Chief Assistant County Attorney David …
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada recognized Paula O'Neil and staff for meeting "the highest principles of governmental budgeting."
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has announced that the office of Paula S. O’Neil, Pasco County Clerk and Comptroller, received the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its 2012 budget. "This award represents a significant achievement by the clerk and comptroller’s office," a press release stated. "It reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meet the highest principles of governmental budgeting." According to the release, to receive the award, the clerk and comptroller’s office had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation, which were designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as a policy document, a financial …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The current surtax expires at the end of 2014.
Since 2005, Pasco County residents have dipped a little deeper in their pockets when they bought just about anything except groceries or prescriptions. The millions from an extra penny in sales tax have gone to improve intersections, expand schools, secure environmentally sensitive land, put laptops in squad cards and even buy defibrillators. Now, school and county officials are gearing up to ask Pasco County voters to approve the tax again as its 10-year lifespan ends New Year’s Eve in 2014. Called the Penny for Pasco, the voluntary additional 1 cent in sales tax is expected to generate $143 million by the time it expires in 2014. Money from the tax with the official name of Local Government Infrastructure Surtax is divided almost evenly …
Kevin Morrison
8:26 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
While I completely agree with Mr. Carlson's comments regarding environmental degradation and overcrowding I would just like to suggest in as a kind a way possible that he temper is words somewhat when it comes to making accusations against public officials. Paraphrasing what you said: Pasco County Commisioners take bribes. While you have a Constitutional right to voice your opinion considering … more ›