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Hernando Today

Lawmakers Coming To Hear Concerns, Wishes

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By TONY MARRERO, Hernando Today

Published: January 15, 2008

Updated: 01/14/2008 08:56 pm

BROOKSVILLE - The state lawmakers who represent Hernando County are coming to town Friday to hear the concerns and wish lists of their constituents.

The meeting is set for 1 to 4 p.m. in the commission chambers of the County Government Center, 20 N. Main St.

Those who wish to reserve in advance their three-minutes of speaking time can call Rep. Rob Schenck's office, 688-5005, as late as Thursday afternoon. Speakers can also sign up the day of the meeting.

Representatives for Hernando County and the City of Brooksville governments say they are ready. Both have funding requests for projects.

But officials from both governments also admit that they're keeping expectations realistic as they lobby Schenck and the county's other three delegates: Rep. Ron Schultz, R-Homosassa; Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey; and Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland.

"Don't be too overly optimistic," Brooksville Community Development Director Bill Geiger told the City Council last week.

Geiger cited a recent memo from Sen. Lisa Carlton and Rep. Ray Sansom advising their fellow lawmakers to "maintain realistic funding expectations given the current revenue situation."

Sansom, R-Destin, is chairman of the House Policy and Budget Council; Carlton, R-Osprey, chairs the Senate's Fiscal Policy and Calendar Committee.

The memo cited the state's $2.4 billion revenue shortfall for the end of the current budget year, which ends June 30, and for next fiscal year.

"Given this reality, we advise that you not expect to receive any General Revenue funding, either recurring or nonrecurring, for community budget issue requests this session," the memo stated.

The memo was written before last week's news of an estimated additional $600 million shortfall in tax revenue, due mainly to the housing slump. State officials now estimate they will have to cut the 2008-09 budget by some $2 billion.

Interim county administrator Larry Jennings said the county would be pleased with a low-interest loan through the state's revolving trust fund to pay for $3.5 million in planned wastewater upgrades to facilities throughout the county. The upgrades also would move the county closer to its goal of distributing reclaimed water.

County Commissioner Dave Russell, himself a former legislator, said the county would be most likely to receive outright funding for such projects because they fall under state programs that are already funded.

Money for water projects, for example, is set aside under Senate Bill 444, Russell said. Hernando has a powerful ally in Dockery, a senior member of the Legislature and an expert in water issues after much work on SB 444. The bill, passed in 2005, combines water pollution, water supply and water concurrency policy in a single law.

The county also will reaffirm the need for various road improvement projects included in the Florida Department of Transportation's proposed list of projects to fund over the next five years, Russell said. The list, which requires approval by the Legislature, includes millions of dollars for the widening of County Line Road and State Road 50.

And Hernando officials also will raise concerns about the effects of mental health patients who wind up in the county's already-crowded county jail system. There are hopes that the state can help pay for treatment programs and facilities for such patients who commit a crime but who do not receive proper treatment in jail, Russell said.

"The fact is we can better accommodate these people for less money and less process and free up (jail) facilities for the people who need to be there," Russell said.

City Seeks Millions For Water Infrastructure

Brooksville has two big-ticket requests that will be familiar to delegates.

The city hopes to score $2.7 million for its continuing sewer rehabilitation project aimed at repairing or replacing the city's aged transmission lines.

The city made the same request last year but didn't receive any funding. However, the state has set aside $4.25 million for the project in previous years.

The city also wants $1.6 million to repair and replace old and, in some cases, undersized potable water lines.

The latter project has a better chance of getting funded because it affects flow to fire hydrants in the historic downtown, prompting safety concerns, council member Lara Bradburn said during last week's council meeting.

"There's not as great of a chance to receive funding this year," Bradburn acknowledged, "but I'm not losing hope because they've said that before."

Bradburn said city officials plan to "show accountability" by listing progress on previously-funded projects "to say, 'Hey, this is what we've been doing with the money you've been so gracious to give us.'"

Brooksville has been "blessed," Bradburn said, "to have a legislative delegation that has fought hard for the city's interests."

Such recognition goes a long way, Russell said, recalling his time serving House District 44, the seat Schenck holds now.

Russell said during his time in state office, "Sumter County always made the delegation feel like we were much appreciated for our hard work. They asked for a lot, they got a lot."

If You Go

WHAT: Hernando County Legislative Delegation meeting.

WHEN: 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18.

WHERE: Commission Chambers of the County Government Center, 20 N. Main St.

CONTACT: To find out more or to reserve three minutes of speaking time, call Rep. Rob Schenck's Spring Hill office, 688-5005.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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