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Pasco commissioners debate small millage rollback as county weighs reserves, CDBG-DR funds
Summary
Pasco County commissioners discussed whether to increase a proposed 0.02-mill rollback to 0.025 or 0.03 at a Sept. 16 meeting, considering reserves, an anticipated $2.24 billion tentative budget, and the availability and restrictions of CDBG-DR disaster recovery 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 Block Grant-Disaster Recovery) funds could help shift one-time costs off the general fund for this fiscal year.
The board discussed competing goals: rolling back the millage to ease taxpayer bills; preserving operating reserves; and using CDBG-DR funds for disaster-related reimbursement. Commissioner Oakley said she could accept a 0.025-mill rollback if staff identifies where cuts should come from, and Commissioner Yeager pushed for 0.03, saying, "we're not talking about cutting paving, we're not talking about cutting roads" if the board moves to 0.03. Chair Starkey and other commissioners advised caution because the county remains short of its reserve target.
On reserves and timing: County officials said the budget would draw down reserves modestly this year while seeking recurring savings to replenish reserves during the fiscal year. County administration told the board the county currently holds about 42 days of reserves and seeks to increase that level. The county also noted that the CDBG-DR funding is a reimbursement grant and requires outlays up front. Chuck Lane, director of the Office of Disaster Recovery, told the board the program "is a reimbursement grant," and that project costs must be paid up front and submitted for reimbursement.
On CDBG-DR eligibility and limits: commissioners pressed staff about using CDBG-DR funding to supplant locally budgeted programs. Staff and legal counsel reminded the board that federal CDBG-DR grants carry restrictions: administrative costs are capped and funds cannot be used to replace ("supplant") locally budgeted expenditures already committed. Commissioner Waitemann asked staff to explore whether some program elements could be reimbursed from CDBG-DR without violating federal rules.
What the board decided: no formal vote was taken on a final millage. Commissioners signaled preferences during the discussion: Oakley said she favored 0.025, Waitemann said 0.03, Yeager 0.03, and others expressed support for 0.025 as a compromise. The board directed staff to return to a final public hearing at 5:15 p.m. with updated options and supporting budget detail for the board to adopt later the same day.
Clarifying context and numbers discussed during the meeting: the tentative overall budget is $2.24 billion; the five-year capital improvement plan was shown as $1.8 billion; the county's parks budget was increased $3,000,000 since July, including $2,000,000 reallocated from the sheriff's budget for parks maintenance; the county currently targets roughly 42 days of operating reserves; and the county noted potential FEMA reimbursements could affect reserve days.
Ending: The board asked staff to prepare a revised packet for the final public hearing and to produce an itemized plan showing where deeper millage reductions would come from (recurring vs. one-time cuts), and how any CDBG-DR reimbursements would be applied while maintaining compliance with federal restrictions. No final millage rate was adopted at the Sept. 16 morning session; the public hearing was scheduled for 5:15 p.m. the same day.
