Pasco County's budget for 2009 will be the subject of a public hearing by county commissioners Monday evening. ...more

September 6, 2008

City Manager William Poe said it really wasn't that difficult putting together a city budget that cuts spending by nearly $400,000 without cutting services. ...more

September 6, 2008

City departments won't be getting new vehicles any time soon. Vacant jobs won't be filled, and travel and training budgets were slashed. ...more

September 6, 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

The Highlands County School Board tentatively approved its 2008-09 budget with a small increase in the school tax rate. ...more

July 31, 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

Developers soon may pay more to build in Pasco County as officials prepare to increase review fees. ...more

July 19, 2008

The Lake Placid Town Council voted unanimously at Monday's meeting to charge a maximum ad valorem millage rate of 4.1166 mils for $1,000 of assessed property valuation. ...more

July 18, 2008

SEBRING — Falling sale prices for homes in Highlands County, as is happening in most parts of the country, will put Michael Wright on the proverbial hot seat right away. On Monday, Wright started as the county's administrator and learned he'll have to recommend to the commissioners either budget cuts or an increase in the tax rate. Officials with the school board and the cities of Sebring and Avon Park also face the same tough choices due to the troubled economy and falling home values. The taxable property values overall in Highlands County dropped 9.2 percent from last year, according to the preliminary report by county Property Appraiser Raymond McIntyre. ...more

June 2, 2008