Pasco County proclaims Juneteenth week, honors Feeding Pasco’s Elderly and highlights family‑leave report

The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners on June 2 adopted a resolution recognizing June 13–20, 2026 as Juneteenth Community Celebration Week and approved a separate resolution honoring Feeding Pasco’s Elderly Inc. for its senior‑nutrition work.

“Freedom opened the door, but education helped us walk through it,” said 7‑year‑old Brinley Barrick, who spoke to commissioners about the importance of Juneteenth and thanked sponsors for community events. The clerk read the Juneteenth resolution (No. 26248) aloud before the board moved approval and commissioners voiced their support.

The board also heard the clerk read Resolution CAO265148 honoring Feeding Pasco’s Elderly Inc.; the text in the resolution summarized the nonprofit’s history and service metrics, including figures for clients served and meals provided during recent fiscal years as stated in the resolution.

A presenter also highlighted a family‑leave report included in the meeting packet and noted select data points: estimated annual childcare costs for an infant of about $13,000 and for a toddler about $9,548; national economic loss figures cited in the presentation (for example, estimated lost income from workforce exits and turnover costs); and a comparison of childcare worker pay ($16.64 per hour) to the state average wage ($30.29).

Commissioners and attendees praised the events and the work of community partners; staff said the family‑leave report will be circulated as a noted item, and the board will discuss the report further at an upcoming work‑plan workshop. No policy vote on family leave occurred at the meeting.

The resolutions and presentations were ceremonial and informational; commissioners thanked community volunteers and organizers and asked staff to continue outreach and public‑facing promotion of events.