Budget gap projected

Mar 10, 2010 — Tampa Tribune

Kevin Wiatrowski

Mar. 10, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- NEW PORT RICHEY -- With the 2010-11 budget just starting to take shape, Pasco County's leaders say it's too early to think about raising taxes to offset millions in revenue lost to falling property values.

Tuesday, county commissioners got a revised estimate of their next budget, which could come up $17.6 million short for operating expenses and fire protection.

That estimate was based on Property Appraiser Mike Wells' statement last week that property values countywide have fallen 11 percent. That estimate was up slightly from the $17 million shortfall county finance chief Michael Nurrenbrock predicted last week.

The outlook for Oct. 1, the date the new budget will take effect, doesn't include costs beyond the county's control, including insurance premiums, mandates and decreased aid from Tallahassee.

As property values fall, county officials face another summer of soul-searching and penny-pinching.

Last year's budget negotiations began with the promise of dramatic cuts to libraries, senior citizen nutrition and other services used by the county's poorest residents. Commissioners avoided many of those cuts by raising property taxes enough to generate about $13 million.

It's not clear whether another property tax increase is on the horizon. Just to replicate their current budget, commissioners would have to raise the tax rate by about 11.4 percent, Nurrenbrock said. Falling property values may offset the tax rate increase for some homeowners.

Commission Chairwoman Pat Mulieri reflected the bind county leaders face.

"People don't have the money for tax increases," she said. "But are we going to cut the budget on the backs of our frailest citizens?"

If last year was the year commissioners decided what they should do as a government, this could be the year they determine what they can do, County Administrator John Gallagher said.

To that end, county officials plan to reach out to county residents in the coming months with meetings that will mix public relations and public input. County officials will try to help residents understand how the budget works, even as they ask taxpayers to help set priorities for spending.

Commissioners say they continue to fight the perception they have hidden away stores of untapped money.

County officials also plan this year to put every county program through a ranking system aimed at determining how well programs are meeting the county's long-term goals. Those that score poorly will be phased out over time as the county streamlines its operations.

As commissioners learned last year, even the least-vital county program has people who will fight to preserve it. County officials hope the new ranking system will take some of the emotion out of their budget-cutting this year.

Even with a final budget months away, Michele Baker, the chief assistant county administrator, said one thing's becoming clear:

"This year the impacts will be felt by our customers."

Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at (813) 731-8168.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0201-42733724