 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Stormwater utility fee moves closer to reality
By JENNIFER GOLDBLATT
© St. Petersburg Times, NEW PORT RICHEY -- City residents prepared to fight a stormwater utility fee Thursday, but New Port Richey officials said the fee ordinance is exempt from petitioning. The City Council voted 4-1 Wednesday night to approve the fee, which would cost the average homeowner $40 per year. Council member Ginny Miller dissented. Five city residents submitted an affidavit to the city Thursday stating their intent to file a petition against the ordinance establishing the fee. "The city is using rain as a reason to get into everybody's pocket," said John DiGiorgio, who is leading the petition drive. He said the city should wait until it has specific requirements from the state until it enacts the fee. But City Attorney Tom Morrison said that the city charter, which gives citizens the right to request the reconsideration of an ordinance and to put issues to referendum for a vote, does not extend to this ordinance. The charter exempts ordinances that relate to capital improvements, the levy of taxes, and the appropriation of funds from petitions and referendums. The fee would be paid by all property owners, including entities exempt from property taxes such houses valued at less than $25,000 and schools. Homeowners would pay $3.36 per month for every 2,629 square feet of impervious surface, and commercial property owners would pay much more. The fee would pay for $17.2-million of flood control and water quality projects. The city is anticipating that the state will tighten water quality requirements in five years, though those requirements are uncertain. City officials have said they want to get a head start on the projects so they'll be ready for the new requirements. Also Wednesday night, the City Council gave preliminary approval to the $24.9-million budget for the 2001-02 fiscal year, and a tax rate of 6.25 mills, the same rate as last year. The final public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 24. The owner of a house valued at $75,000 who claims a $25,000 homestead exemption would pay $312.50 in annual property taxes. A mill produces $1 in tax for every $1,000 in taxable property value.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From today's Pasco Times |
