As veteran observers of Pasco County government know, June 1 often heralds the arrival of not only the Atlantic hurricane season but something else likely to get things stirring: the release of the annual Sheriff's Office budget proposal. Regardless of who is sheriff or his or her party affiliation, the county's top law enforcement official has almost without fail wanted more money than the County Commission wants to give the office. ...more

June 4, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY No layoffs and no pay raises are included in the proposed Pasco Sheriff's Office budget for fiscal 2009 released today. ...more

May 30, 2008

How much does it cost taxpayers each day to pay their government workers? ...more

February 21, 2008

That's now much it cost to pay county government workers. ...more

February 20, 2008

County bosses turn raises over to charities. ...more

February 15, 2008

Voters sent a clear message Tuesday when they resoundingly approved a constitutional amendment that gives homeowners bigger tax breaks: They want lower tax bills, even at the expense of services. ...more

January 31, 2008

The single-member district proposal which is being circulated would greatly diminish the power of every voter in our county. I urge all county residents to vigorously oppose the petition drive by not signing it and if it makes it to the ballot, vote "no"! ...more

January 27, 2008

Forget for a moment — if that's possible — all the presidential candidates offering us the world if we elect them to our country's highest office. Instead consider all the important offices here in Highlands County that will be decided in November. It's enough to get even a mild political junkie excited about who will run and who won't. All constitutional officers are up for re-election this campaign season. That means the sheriff, clerk of courts, tax assessor and tax collector are up for grabs. So is the school superintendent post, as well as county commission seats and school board positions. This is when we see some incredibly talented people take a risk and run for office. ...more

January 3, 2008

SEBRING — Luke Brooker isn't, but Bob Germaine is. The sheriff is, and so are all the other constitutional officers. Germaine called a press conference at 1 p.m. Wednesday to announce he'll seek the clerk of courts seat being vacated by Brooker. Germaine, 57, said if he's elected, he won't be a one-term clerk. He's been working in the office for 36 years and is Brooker's chief deputy on the criminal courts side. "I help people every day," Germaine said to the 20 people gathered in the supervisor of elections office when he announced. "I don't feel like I've done anything if I don't help someone." ...more

January 3, 2008

SEBRING — Highlands County voters will have lots of decisions to make in 2008. On Jan. 29, the primary will give Democrats and Republicans the opportunity to choose their presidential nominee. At the same time, voters can decide whether to lower their own taxes. The deadline to register to vote in the primary is Dec. 31, said Norma Stokes, assistant supervisor of elections. Early voting for the primary starts on Jan. 14. Voters can go to the libraries in Lake Placid and Avon Park, or at the Highlands County Government Center in Sebring. The last day to call for an absentee ballot to be mailed to the voter's home is Jan. 23, Stokes said. ...more

December 28, 2007