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Hernando Today

Schenck Decides On A Lowered Millage Cap

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: January 24, 2009

SPRING HILL - The fire district's millage cap will remain at 2.50 after all.

Robert Schenck made waves when he decided last month to reduce it from 2.75.

During last week's meeting of the Spring Hill Fire Rescue Board of Commissioners, some said they were surprised and betrayed by Schenck's decision to lower the cap.

"Although some on the (board) may want to raise taxes on the residents of Spring Hill, tax increases have no place in the current economy," Schenck said in a media statement Friday. "I am glad that Spring Hill Fire Rescue (is) able to work within this new cap while keeping the Spring Hill taxpayers in mind."

In December, the board voted unanimously to approve a state bill that would grant the district independent status and have the millage cap at 2.75.

The day after that Jan. 14 meeting, Schenck seemed willing to return to a 2.75 cap based on the comments by the board and the public.

"It's their fire district," he told Hernando Today last week. "At the end of the day, it's their call."

On Friday, he thought differently. In his media release, Schenck mentioned he decided to lower it again to 2.50 after meeting with Chief Mike Rampino, Local Union 2794 President Troy Hagar and fire board chairman Leo Jacobs.
Schenck could not be reached for further comment.
Hagar said he was asked to attend the meeting by Rampino. He did not feel like he took part of the decision making, but he also didn't object to the lowered cap.

"As a union, we didn't take a stance on it," he said. "That's for the administration to decide. (Schenck) did ask me whether I understood his thinking and I did agree with his point."

Spring Hill residents voted in November to have its fire district independent from the county. If the state bill - authored by Schenck - is passed, the district's oversight no longer will come from the county. It will come from the state.

Rampino said the early figures from the property appraisers office showed there would be a cut in the ad valorem tax, which provides the funding for the district.
Schenck was comfortable a millage of 2.50 or less would give them enough of a cushion, so he decided that should be the appropriate cap, the chief said.

"We're trying to do right by the taxpayers," said Rampino. "We all walked out of that room comfortable with the cap at 2.50."

Currently, the district's millage rate is 2.2686. One mill equals one dollar for every $1,000 worth of taxable property value.

"The decision's been made and I'm looking to the future," said fire commissioner Amy Brosnan, who seemed unfazed by the latest news on the millage cap. "There are always nerves during a budget cycle, but now we have a chance to be conservative with the taxpayers' money."

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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