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Year In Review

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 1, 2008

Sept. 5
Magnet Schools To Remain Intact

BROOKSVILLE - The school board made several key decisions during a four-hour workshop meant to refine the district's vision for its magnet program. Here's what board members decided:

The district's three magnet schools will not be turned into neighborhood schools; the magnet programs will not be moved; the number of students admitted based on aptitude will increase to 60 percent; the sibling preference policy at magnet schools will end in September 2010.

Sept. 11

Former County Commissioner Mary Aiken Passes

BROOKSVILLE - A feisty, but colorful former county commissioner, Mary Aiken, died at the Hernando-Pasco Hospice Care Center.

Aiken was 80.

From 2000 to 2004, she served as a Democrat on the county commission, representing District 5. That district covered much of the county's coastline.

Sept. 14

500-Plus People Attend First Budget Hearing

BROOKSVILLE - An estimated crowd of between 500-550 packed the county government center in downtown Brooksville to voice their displeasure with what they perceive as bloated department budgets, overpaid staff and government overspending.

Eight hours later, county commissioners voted 3-2 to further reduce the property tax rate by another 0.25 mills, bringing the final rate to 6.5931. They also voted 3-2 to approve a 3-percent cost of living salary raise across the board for all government employees.

Voting for the raises were Commissioners Diane Rowden, Jeff Stabins, and Chris Kingsley.

Commissioners David Russell and Rose Rocco voted against the salary hikes.

Sept. 15

Mediation Ordered For Swiftmud, Weeki Wachee

BROOKSVILLE - Marion County Senior Circuit Judge William Swigert ordered the attorneys for the Weeki Wachee attraction and its landlord, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (Swiftmud), to pick a mediator to resolve a nearly four-year dispute over the park's lease.

Swigert set a deadline of Sept. 20.

Sept. 16

'Masaryktown's Grandmother' Turns 100
MASARYKTOWN - 'Masaryktown's grandmother' Lillian Chudy turned 100 years old.

Chudy gathered with family and friends at the Harmony Restaurant in Masaryktown.

"I've got good health, my church and friends," said Chudy. "What else do I need, an egg in my beer?"

Sept. 18

Lower Millage Forces

$2.2 Mill In Cuts

BROOKSVILLE - Budget Director George Zoettlein sharpened his budget-paring knife, looking for ways to cut costs after county commissioners reduced the property tax rate another quarter mill.

Commissioners told Zoettlein to spread the cuts proportionately among the seven taxing units they control: the general fund, transportation trust fund, health care, sensitive lands fund, emergency management, Spring Hill Fire Rescue and stormwater protection.

And that's exactly what Zoettlein did.

Overall, the cuts total $2.2 million.

The lion's share of cuts - $1.6 million - will come out of the general fund, the biggest pot of money. Zoettlein cut $379,000 from reserves, to maintain a comfortable 20 percent level.

That will leave it up to department managers and constitutional officers to cut deeper into their budgets to make up the remaining $1.2 million, Zoettlein said.

Sept. 19

Budget Hearing

Moved To Church

BROOKSVILLE - Bowing to pressure from residents demanding a larger and more commodious venue, county commissioners Tuesday agreed to hold their Sept. 27 budget hearing - their second and final hearing - at the 2,000-seat Grace World Outreach Church in Brooksville.

Commissioners said many people were not pleased at being shuffled all over the downtown government center during the first hearing .It was evident a change of venue was in order, they said.

"We heard that loud and clear," County Commissioner David Russell said.

Sept. 20

Cable Customers Prepare For Channel Changes

BROOKSVILLE - Effective Dec. 11, Bright House Networks cable customers will have to consult their TV guides to find some of their favorite channels.

To provide more programming and to create uniformity across its service area, Bright House announced it will realign its channels and move all public, educational and government access channels to the lowest tier of digital service.

But the channel realignment comes with a cost.

Cable customers whose televisions aren't equipped with digital capability will have to pay $1 per month for a digital converter box.

Sept. 21

Weeki Wachee Walker Robbed, Beaten

WEEKI WACHEE - For 15 years, John Kelly was a familiar sight along State Road 50. Night and day, he could be seen walking. But on this night, Kelly, 48, was assaulted and robbed of $100 by two men as he walked near Ovenbird Road in Weeki Wachee.

Kelly survived the attack and the two men were caught.

Sept. 28

County Again Gets Earful From Angry Taxpayers

BROOKSVILLE - The location may have been different but the reaction from taxpayers at the second and final budget hearing was the same: cut the big raises to high-priced department heads and stop government overspending.

Hundreds of people filed into Grace World Outreach Church in Brooksville - which could accommodate more people than the commission chambers - to urge county commissioners to further reduce the millage rate and bring tax relief.

After about six hours of debate, commissioners cut property taxes by 1.57 mills. That translates into roughly a $157-a year savings on a home valued at $100,000.

The board also kept intact a 3 percent across-the-board salary hike for government employees, a move that did not resonate well with the majority of citizens who called for freezes for upper management employees.

Look for more published articles in upcoming editions.

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