St. Petersburg Times; Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Florida lawmakers this year said money was drying up, but apparently not in the pipeline to Pasco County. Gov. Charlie Crist signed a state budget Wednesday that includes $18.2-million for Pasco projects, plus $11-million that Pasco will share with a couple other counties.

Every Pasco project made the cut — including $5.3-million that Florida TaxWatch tagged as “turkeys.”

$10-million for building roads at school sites, helping ease an infrastructure battle between the county government and school district.

$10-million to improve privately owned, affordable housing for seniors. Pasco will share this fund with Orange and Palm Beach counties.

$5-million to help recruit industries with higher-paying jobs. Requires a 50 percent match from Pasco government. (TaxWatch turkey)

$2-million to help a Hudson hurricane shelter meet higher wind standards. The feds just eased that rule, but the county may try to keep the money.

Other projects approved:

• Part of $750,000 to help parents who do not have custody of their children get jobs.

• $250,000 to control flooding in Duck Slough in Trinity.

• $200,000 for mental health services for children at The Harbor Behavioral Health Care Institute. (TaxWatch turkey)

• $100,000 for Connections job development program. (TaxWatch turkey)

• $678,000 for Operation PAR to provide drug treatment for teens.