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Pasco’s fiscal picture bright for 2020 By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
As budget planning ramps up for fiscal year 2020, Pasco County officials believe the county has bright economic prospects for the coming year. “We’re now projecting for the fiscal 2020 budget an increase of 9.5 percent of countywide taxable assessed values. That is the
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same increase as we had in fiscal year 2019,” said Robert Goehig, budget director for Pasco County. “This 9.5 percent increase is huge. It’s unprecedented. We haven’t seen increases like this, really, at all.At 9.5 percent increase of assessed value, that generates about an additional $18.5 million in property tax revenues,” the budget expert told the Pasco County Commission, during a workshop
session on April 30. He also noted that the expected rate of the increase for the coming year is the same as it was in 2008, before the Great Recession. Unlike then, however, the underlying economy is much stronger, Goehig said. “We feel we’re in a better position now See 2020, page 13A
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Celebrating motherhood As Mother’s Day approaches — it’s on May 12 this year — we wanted to celebrate some of the small daily moments that moms recently shared with their children within the communities served by The Laker/Lutz News. Above, Rayliris Green, of Land O’ Lakes, walks next to Jayden, her 7-year-old son, as he bicycles during a recent evening. Asked what makes his mom special, Jayden responded: ‘My mom is so beautiful, she is so kind to me. She takes care of me, and is always there for me.’
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Wesley Chapel Boulevard expansion plans progress By Brian Fernandes bfernandes@lakerlutznews.com
A construction time frame has been set for Pasco County’s plans to widen Wesley Chapel Boulevard to six lanes. The expansion of the road — also known as County Road 54 – will be broken into two projects. The first project begins just north of the road’s intersection with State Road 56 and extends to the north of its intersection with Magnolia Boulevard. The second project extends from the intersection at Progress Parkway to the intersection of Oakley Boulevard. An initial 2003 study prompted the idea of expanding Wesley Chapel Boulevard to four lanes. However, later studies predicting an increase in density resulted in a call for more widening. “Projections we did, before 2008, show that future growth is going to bring the volumes up to a point that we’ll need to have six lanes there,” said Panos Kontses, a Pasco See EXPANSION, page 13A
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Rayna Woodruff, of New Tampa, carries her 8-month old son, Levi, and holds the hand of her 2-year-old son, James, as she walks through The Shops at Wiregrass. She defined motherhood like this: ‘It’s life-changing. It’s a struggle of love. There’s lots of activities, lots of tears, but it’s a balance. Watching them grow everyday, it makes me excited for their achievements, whether its walking, or riding a bike. It’s a lot of emotions.’
During a recent morning outing at The Shops at Wiregrass, Jill Pydeski, of Wesley Chapel, left, holds on to her 2-year-old daughter, Hannah, while sharing a laugh with her mother-in-law, Lorraine Pydeski, of Dunedin. Jill was moved to tears, when her mother-in-law described her this way: ‘She is a wonderful mom. The best. We feel very lucky to have her in our family.’
Wesley Chapel library to be remodeled this fall By Brian Fernandes bfernandes@lakerlutznews.com
Community locals gathered at the New River Branch Library to learn of Pasco County’s plans to renovate the building’s interior and exterior. The April 25 meeting was also an opportunity for the public to voice any questions, concerns or ideas regarding the project. The library is one of seven branches that will undergo makeovers with funding provided by a general obligation bond overwhelmingly supported by Pasco County voters in November 2018. The New River library is situated at 34043 State Road 54, which is near the border of Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills. Much of the planning for the improvements was based on feedback received from library patrons, said Angelo Liranzo, regional branch manager for New River and the Hugh Embry Library in Dade City. Those attending the community meeting saw aerial-view drawings of the library — which will be reconfigured but not expanded. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is working along with the county to fulfill the project.
A second entry will be added with a right-turn lane for motorists who are heading west on Old State Road 54. The entrance will lead to the existing parking lot and will have signage to direct drivers. Guests inquired about a possible way to turn left onto Old State Road 54 when exiting the library. At present, only right turns can be made when leaving the premises. “We were hoping for a left-hand turn median, [but] we don’t see that in FDOT’s plans right now,” the branch manager responded. However, he encouraged the group to take the issue up with county officials. Linda Harris was relieved when plans were mentioned to incorporate more seating between the parking lot and the entrance. “My friend is physically challenged and she has a hard time getting from her car all the way into the building,” the Zephyrhills resident said. She explained that with additional seating, her friend can stop to rest, if needed. There also are plans to add a book dropoff site in the parking lot, making it more convenient to return books. A sidewalk also will be added, leading from the parking lot to the library’s commu-
nity garden on the building’s east side. This will provide easy access to the garden for those with limited mobility, Liranzo said. Within the garden, an outdoor classroom will be built and shaded by an aluminum roof. Alexandra Kotzeva is receptive to the plan.The Wesley Chapel resident volunteers at the library after school hours. “I’m really glad to hear that the outdoor class(room) is going to be a thing now,” the 17-year-old said. Attendees also expressed interest when they learned that the outdoor classroom would also serve as a stage for live performances and seminars, and also be equipped with proper lighting. When a question was raised about security, Liranzo noted that lighting and surveillance cameras around the library’s outer perimeter is a possibility. Cameras may be placed inside as well, especially at the entrance, he added. Plans also call for seating in the front lobby, to encourage a social atmosphere, and there will be an art gallery. The existing meeting room, to the immeSee LIBRARY, page 13A