LEGAL OPINION SAYS COUNTY COULD LEVY FIRE BOARD'S BUSINESS TAX

An eight-page legal opinion prepared for Spring Hill Fire Chief Mike Rampino says there was nothing improper or illegal about the Fire Board's request to the county for a levy of tangible personal property tax against Spring Hill businesses.   The opinion from Terry Lewis of Lewis, Longman & Walker says Florida law and county ordinances allow the county to assess the business tax on behalf of its specially created tax units.  Until an election next year, the Spring Hill Fire Board does not have independent authority to levy any ad valorem tax, and the board's resolution from last week's meeting asking for county levy of the business tax led to legal and political questions.  The item was not on Tuesday's County agenda, and no action was taken on the resolution.  The Lewis opinion does not say whether the independent fire board would have the authority to levy the tax after voters approve a maximum ad valorem levy in next's year's vote.  Nor does it say whether or not the tax needed to be noticed on next month's TRIM mailings.   

• Vaccinate all dogs, cats and ferrets over the age of three months against rabies.  Vaccinations should be performed by a licensed veterinarian.
• Avoid all free-roaming dogs, cats and wild animals.
• Do not allow pets to run free.  Follow leash laws and keep pets and livestock secured on

your property.

• Do not feed or pet wild animals.
• Call Hernando County Animal Services to report stray dogs or cats or wild animals exhibiting aggressive or unusual behavior.  The Animal Services phone number is 796-5062.

Vitalo 

The Hernando County School Board became one of few around the state that have rejected an optional quarter-mill property tax in favor of a broad cut in the tax rate from last year.  The vote came despite the plea of teachers' representative Joe Vitalo, who urged the board to pass the tax.  Vitalo cited statistics indicating that Hernando would fall to 65th place among Florida's 67 counties in per pupil spending from its current  58th ranking and throwing away the progress made over the years.  Vitalo also noted that the millage rate with the optional tax  was less than the current year's rate. 

COMMISSIONERS STICK WITH CURRENT MILLAGE RATES

County commissioners listened for more than three hours Tuesday afternoon as constitutional officers, staff and the public spoke about the proposed county budget.  At the end of the budget discussion, the County Board voted to certify the same millage rates as in effect for the current year to the Property Appraiser for next month's TRIM notices.  That means a General Fund rate of 5.4394 mills, a combined county millage including Transportation Trust, Health Unit, Sensitive Lands, and the EMS and Stormwater tax units of 7.0168 mills.  The Board also approved a tentative millage rate of 2.2686 for the Spring Hill Fire and Rescue tax unit, pending next year's election to give the independent district full taxing authority.  The tentative rates set Tuesday can still be lowered at public hearings on the budget in September, but as a practical matter cannot be increased.  The approved rate means that commissioners still need to find $700,000 in additional board department budget cuts to balance the spending plan as required by law.  Those cuts will likely come from reductions in parks and facilities personnel, Government Broadcasting cuts, and a dollar hike in seasonal Pine Island parking fee.

SERVICES SCHEDULED FOR HERNANDO BEACH SOLDIER

The family of Justin Dean Coleman is inviting the community and those who knew the soldier who was killed last week in Afghanistan to attend a schedule of services.  The family said visitation was scheduled for Sunday between 2 and 8 p.m. at the Downing Funeral Home on Wendy Court off Commercial Way near the Nature Coast Commons shopping center.  A 10 a.m. Monday memorial service will be at the funeral home, with a procession to the Florida National Cemetery in Sumter County to follow, with burial scheduled for 12:30.  The 21-year old Army Specialist died of a gunshot wound while on a mission related to the search for a Taliban prisoner.

SHERIFF DISCUSSES BUDGET CUT OPTIONS WITH COMMISSIONERS

Sheriff Richard Nugent was the leadoff presenter when county commissioners began an afternoon-long budget meeting Tuesday.  Nugent was responding to the county's request that the sheriff find an additional $2 million to eliminate from the Sheriff's Office spending plan.  Nugent said cuts would start with the DARE drug abuse education program.  Despite what he called the program's success, Nugent said four deputies assigned to DARE would have to be downsized, though he said analysis indicates the program is too much a part of the office's core mission to cut completely.  "Prevention is cheaper than incarceration," he said.  Nugent presented the County Board with a Level 1 proposal to cut a million dollars, with loss of 13 sworn deputy positions, and a Level 2 proposal for the complete $2 million cut which would mean the elimination of 27 deputies, including cutbacks to the Air, Marine and Traffic Enforcement units.  Reaction to the sheriff's presentation ranged from support expressed by Leo Jacobs to a call from Jason Sager for the sheriff to stick to his core mission and to cut elsewhere because "there's no money left."  Commissioners listened and told staff to continue discussions with Nugent.  Despite calls by tax activists for a public showing in force, the commission chambers Tuesday were not completely filled, although some chose to stand at the back during public comments on the sheriff's presentation.

COUNTY TO FUND CANNERY, LESSEE WITHDRAWS OFFER

County commissioners told staff to find money for the Little Rock Cannery Tuesday after Spring Hill veterinarian Keely Smith, who proposed to lease the Cannery and take it off the county budget rolls, withdrew her proposal.  The move came in light of almost unanimous public opinion against the proposed lease.  Several dozen members of the audience, many wearing yellow T-shirts bearing the message "I Can! at the Cannery", called on the County Board to use a recent $32,000 donation and other county funds to continue public operation of the Cannery. After more than an hour of comments, staff told the board that budget stabilization funds together with the anonymous donation could be used to continue Cannery operations, and commissioners voted unanimously to look for funds to keep operating the Cannery as is for now.  At least two commissioners said they wanted to use the extra year to seek a better proposal for Cannery privatization before budget talks start next summer.

EARLY LEAVE APPROVED FOR ALL SIX-YEAR COUNTY EMPLOYEES

County Human Resources Director Cheryl Marsden told the County Board Tuesday that a second round of an early leave program for all six-year county employees could provide almost two-thirds of the budget savings commissioners are looking for.  Marsden has estimated that as much as $428,000 can be saved if only five percent of eligible employees take the offer of one week of pay for each year on the job, plus paid time off and paid COBRA benefits for 18 months.  The costs would come out of salaries budgeted for the employees.  Marsden has estimated program cost at $335,000 plus the COBRA expense, with potential savings of more than $1 million in pay.  Commissioners approved the program amid optimism that a good response will mean big budget savings in the coming fiscal year.

LANDFILL PRIVATIZING COULD ELIMINATE 22 JOBS

Utilities Director Joe Stapf told the County Board Tuesday that his proposals for meeting budget goals include privatizing recycling and provision of cover at the County landfill.  Stapf said he was still exploring the privatization options, but the prospect of going from 55 to 33 employees would go a long way toward closing a shortfall between solid waste budget wants and revenue reality.  Stapf says the recycling operation could be privatized, since the market for recycled materials does not support the costs.  He also says county eployees would remain responsible for actually covering the active landfill cell each day, though additional positions could be eliminated by contracting for delivery of the cover material.  It's not known how many employees in eliminated positions might be hired by private contractors.

GRANT MONEY COULD PUT LIBRARIES BACK ON SCHEDULE

County Library Director Barbara Shiflett said Tuesday that use of state library grants for operations and personnel costs could allow the four county library facilities to go back to their original 52-hour a week schedule, but she's recommending that commissioners cut back to a compromise position to save grant money for next year.  She's suggesting that the proper schedule is somewhere between the current five days a week, 38-hour schedule, and the former 52-hour, six day a week times.  Shiflett also told County Board members at a budget meeting Tuesday that she will be proposing changes in the way fines are levied for overdue books, perhaps extending to eliminating fines in whole or in part.  All four libraries had their hours cut back earlier this year in order to keep within lower budget targets as expected county revenue dwindled.  Shiflett said the use of grant money could put the facilities back on either the original schedule or a middle ground, but that prud