An Ordinance By The Board Of County Commissioners Of Pasco County, Florida, Dissolving Highlands Municipal Service Benefit Unit, Consisting Of Seven Distinct Units As Of December 31, 2025, And Providing For An Effective Date And Applicability.

57:56Good afternoon, Chairman, Commissioners, I'm Jerry Williams, Public Infrastructure, Fiscal and Business Administration Department. TIFPA 250319, an ordinance by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, dissolving Highlands Municipal Service Benefit, consisting of seven distinct units, as of December 31st, 2025, and providing for an effective date and applicability.

58:25So on June eighteenth, 2024, ordinance number 2431, the Road Rehabilitation Services Municip Municipal Service Taxing Unit, MSTU. Was approved by the Board of County Commissioners. So Highlands Railways are now maintained under the parameters of the Road Rehabilitation Services MSTU. So Highlands consists of seven units. 36.5 road miles, 742 ERUs, and 3,288 acres.

58:58And this is a roadmap. I mean I'm sorry, this is a map depicting the boundaries of the MSBU.

59:03Oh yeah.

59:04Itemizing the respective units.

59:11So the recommended action is to accept public comment and adopt the proposed ordinance.

59:19Okay, I do want to comment on this, um, but let's see if there's any public comment.

59:23Madam Chair.

59:24Okay, none. Yeah.

59:27Um Uh Jerry, great job on this and I think it's it's it's good to bring it forward. However there's one. thing that I think the board should think about and maybe we postpone this to further discussion through the summer as we look at what we're gonna do.

59:40Yeah

59:40I don't I

59:40don't think we should get rid of it.

59:42Okay. And I'm going to go along that way. B just because as we look at, let's say, dirt roads, the reason we have seven districts here, not just geographical, the different road conditions. Some of these things are in great shape, some are in just terrible shape, dirt roads that need a lot of work. And I think if we're going to be looking at trying to maximize the dollars we put in for the uh MSTU, MSBU we put in for transportation, we may need this. To help fund some of these roads that want to get done, but you you need the funding source in place. So I think it's going to be

1:00:13good to actually I don't know, Mike, how long do you think?

1:00:17Well whether you continue it or you just choose to leave it on the books and adopt a zero, uh you know, you can Yeah.

1:00:25That's what I would say.

1:00:28Keep it at zero and just let's leave

1:00:29it.

1:00:29I'm I'm good with that for now.

1:00:33So does the board wish to withdraw this ordinance.

1:00:38Yes. But I I do.

1:00:41Yeah, that

1:00:41would have to be it.

1:00:42And then

1:00:42when we

1:00:42come back over the summer when we are setting various millages and MSBUs, staff would recommend setting the the assessment at zero dollars.

1:00:52So I I'd need a motion from the board to To deny adoption of of the ordinance dissolving the Highlands Municipal Service Benefit Unit and it can always be readvertised in Sure.

1:01:06Yes.

1:01:06I just

1:01:06want to be careful. I mean these folks are paying the road MSTU I just make it zero. Uh well it's still on there and could be funded. I mean there's a chance potentially that they could end up double taxed if we're not This board changes. Um So it's just a concern? I'm fine with leaving it at zero. It's just a b I see a a vulnerability for Double taxation for these folks.

1:01:33Madam Chair. Yeah. And and I'm okay with bringing it back at a s some point, maybe bring it back next year. So it's still fresh in everybody's mind. Some of these roads are in terrible shape, some are in great shape. And that's right-this different categories I said is in there. I think setting it at zero is fine and then we can look at it again next year. But I think leaving place rather than reconstructing it which should take a lot more time and effort I think the wiser thing is just set it for zero for this year and we can revisit it next year. No matter what happens. Okay.

1:02:00Yeah, we'll have a further idea of when they may be getting to them.

1:02:03I'll second

1:02:04that.

1:02:04Yeah. Okay. Um it's a roll call vote. So

1:02:08Madam I don't know that there was a motion. I'm I put it on the record.

1:02:13And before the motion I just wanna tell for the record that no one is signed up uh in person and no one on WebEx for this item.

1:02:19Okay. Anybody who w was here to wish to speak to the Highlands Ridge Road and Bridge District? Seeing none. I

1:02:25will move to set the assessment for zero.

1:02:34But what I we need need to get th this advertised public hearing dispensed with. So it would would be the to deny adoption of the ordinance for dissolving the Highlands. Okay. I deny adoption of the ordinance. Second.

1:02:48Roll cover. Okay. District One Commissioner Oakley.

1:02:53Aye.

1:02:54District two, Commissioner Weightman.

1:02:55Aye.

1:02:56District four, Commissioner Yeager. Uh District five, Commissioner Mariano.

1:03:01Aye.

1:03:02District three, Chairman Starkey.

1:03:03Aye. This is an unusual meeting.

1:03:12Okay, P forty-eight. Is this a continuance?

1:03:1547.