A Work Session has been scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on January 12, 2017 in order to solidify the city's position as it relates to the 2017 State of Florida, Legislative Action Agenda.  In large part, this year's legislative platform is composed of bills that either deal with or protect local revenues or alternately, establish an unfunded mandate. As you already know, an unfunded mandate is when one government forces another level of government to take some action that spends or reduces revenue, without providing any resources to mitigate the impact. 

In that regard, the staff is recommending that you consider the following items in conjunction with your Work Session and determine your top legislative priorities for presentation to the Pasco County Legislative Delegation:

Community Redevelopment Agencies

Support legislation that improves cities use of community redevelopment agencies to encourage new investment and effectively carry out redevelopment and community revitalization.

Transportation Funding

Increase funding sources at the state level with which to support transportation projects.

Communications Services Tax and Local Business Tax Protection

Protect revenues generated from the communications services tax and the local business tax as theses revenues are essential to providing municipal service. 

Impact Fees

Oppose legislation that restricts a local government’s ability to ensure that new developments fund the infrastructure needs they create by way of impact fees and transportation concurrency.

Public Records

Advocate for public records reform to disincentize tactics designed to generate violations of public records laws, disrupt normal operations and serve as a stage by which to petition for attorney fees.

Firefighter Cancer Disability Presumption

Support legislation that provides for a cancer disability presumption in respect to limited types of cancer which can be determined to have been suffered in the line of duty.

Effective Public Notice

Promote laws to authorize cities to provide effective public notice and advertising for various appropriate matters by means other than newspaper advertising, such as direct mailings, physical posting of property, internet posting, publications and government-access television stations.

State Aid to Public Libraries

Sustain the State Aid to Public Libraries program which provides a vital source of funding to local libraries

Funding to support the following projects:

·       Pedestrian Walkway over U.S. Highway 19

·       Downtown Parking Garage

·       Multi-Use Path on Grand Boulevard from Marine Parkway to Delaware Avenue

The Pasco County Legislative Delegation public meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Sunlake High School in Land O’Lakes.  The public meeting is held to receive testimony from other elected officials, organizations and the general public.