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City cautiously moves on fees
By CHASE SQUIRES, Times Staff Writer
DADE CITY -- Expressing concerns and hearing opposition, City Commissioners on Tuesday night took a tentative step forward on proposals to start charging property owners extra fees for fire protection and street lights. But it was just a step. Commissioners unanimously approved a method for enacting the new fees and sending out bills. But everything else, from whether traditionally tax-exempt entities would be charged, to the actual amount the city would charge, was left for an April 8 meeting. Under one proposal submitted by Tallahassee consultants Government Services Group, the city could charge about $33 to $48 a year to homeowners, plus fees to businesses and potentially to schools, government buildings and churches, for streetlights. A second proposal submitted by GSG would add a $90 annual fee for homeowners, plus a fee computed by square footage on all other properties, for fire protection. Nothing regarding what the actual fees was settled at Tuesday's meeting. Commissioner Hutch Brock once suggested the city only charge a $9 fee per home for fire protection -- just enough to cover the outstanding debt on a fire truck. Speakers from the audience were either solidly against the plans or suggested there could be problems. Pasco County School Board Attorney Dennis Alfonso said the city isn't taking into account the good the schools do for the city and said the district is concerned that the city wants to assess fees, then let the schools pitch a way to settle the fee with an exchange of services, rather than settling the matter up front. Resident John Bolender said the new fees will hurt residents and chase away new businesses. "Each year, the check that I write (to governments) grows," he said. "As a taxpayer, I'm upset. As a commercial property owner, I'm beside myself." Mayor Scott Black said he heard the concerns and vowed some tough budget decisions would be made by the city, but he said sometimes commissioners have to do unpopular things to create a better future. He said a primary goal of spreading assessments to everyone -- perhaps even schools and churches -- is to make the taxation system more fair. He said property tax rates would come down as a result. GSG consultant Camille Tharpe said every property owner in town would receive a personal notice of a public hearing to be held April 22 at the American Legion/Charles McIntosh Center at 37745 Church Ave.
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