Pasco commissioners set up law-enforcement MSU but debate city participation and cost-sharing

The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners advanced an ordinance to establish a municipal service taxing unit to fund law enforcement services in the county's unincorporated areas, setting a legal framework for future millage and budget decisions.

Amy Farrell, budget director, told commissioners the ordinance would create the MSU’s legal existence, define its boundaries and allow levying ad valorem taxes to fund law enforcement services; millage rates would be decided later during the TRIM process. “This is just setting up the ordinance, and then we would follow the typical budget process,” she said.

Commissioner Mariano expressed concern that the burden could fall on unincorporated taxpayers if the cities do not participate. “I don’t want to put that shift on unincorporated citizens,” he said, urging negotiated agreements with cities before funding begins. Chase Daniels, under sheriff for community outreach operations, said the sheriff’s office supports the MSU and is coordinating with city managers to track and quantify services the sheriff’s office provides to those municipalities. “We are fully in support of this MSU in this language,” Daniels said, and added the office will begin capturing time and costs to inform potential city contributions.

Board members agreed the MSU can be established without immediately funding it and directed staff to continue negotiations with city managers and the sheriff’s office to develop equitable cost-sharing or contract options. The board voted to introduce the ordinance and waive introduction formalities; the motion passed by roll-call with one recorded dissent on subsequent actions when funding specifics were discussed.

Staff will return with proposed millage amounts and proposed agreements with cities before any taxation occurs; the ordinance itself creates the mechanism but does not set rates.