I oppose the fire tax assessment bill. I've run the New Testament Church and Mission for 32 years. In those years I have only needed to call the fire department once, which was found to be arson. ...more

August 21, 2008

The voters demanded lower property taxes, and as Pasco County's cities work on spending packages for the next fiscal year, they are heeding that message. ...more

August 2, 2008

County commissioners on Tuesday set a tentative tax rate of $5.43 per $1,000 of property valuation for the 2008-09 fiscal year, the same rate homeowners paid this year. ...more

July 24, 2008

County commissioners on Tuesday set a tentative tax rate of $5.43 per $1,000 of property valuation for the upcoming 2008-09 fiscal year – the same rate homeowners paid this year. Property owners will, however, save an estimated $115 each in the coming year, however, thanks to statewide property tax reform, a slow economy and a trimmed down budget of $980 million. Homeowners in August will receive notices from the property appraiser showing their estimated taxes for the coming year. Those in the county's fire and rescue taxing district also must pay 99.6 cents per $1,000 as well as school taxes, water district and mosquito control district fees and other assessments. Those in municipalities pay local taxes. ...more

July 23, 2008

With dwindling revenue and the effects of property tax changes still unknown, Pasco County officials are looking at cutting an estimated $22 million from their budget in coming months, officials said this week. ...more

May 24, 2008

The City of Sebring has chosen the right way to impose its proposed fire assessments. Make groups of property owners pay proportionally to the fire calls they make, and don't exempt anyone. After the City of Avon Park's harrowing experience to make groups –– initially exempted –– pay their share of the assessment, Sebring has decided that exempting anyone, and later asking for their money, is a bad idea. That's a good policy in making taxation as fair as possible. Fires do not discriminate, be it a church building, a government office or a home, or a vacant lot. And there's no reason why some property owners should be discriminated against when paying this proposed assessment. ...more

May 12, 2008