Pasco commissioners debate small millage rollback as county weighs reserves, CDBG-DR funds

Pasco County commissioners on Sept. 16 debated whether to deepen a proposed rollback of the county's general operating millage, weighing a 0.02-mill reduction sent to first public hearing against proposals for 0.025 and 0.03.

The tentative county budget presented by Amy Farrell, budget director in the Office of Management and Budget, totaled $2,240,000,000 and included a 0.02-mill reduction to the general fund. Farrell told the board: "the tentative budget that we have put together before you right now, which includes a 0.02 reduction in the general fund, is $2,240,000,000." She said that figure was roughly $6 million less than the previously adopted fiscal year 2025 budget and reflected department reductions and other refinements.

Why it matters: commissioners said any additional rollback reduces near-term property tax bills but can chip away at reserves that fund services such as parks, roads and storm-repair work. Commissioners repeatedly raised the question of whether federal CDBG-DR (Community Development…