LACOOCHEE, Fla. — Changes are on the way for Pasco County homeowners when it comes to paying for road paving and maintenance.

What You Need To Know

  • A new countywide tax is changing the way road maintenance and improvements are being made in Pasco County

  • The new tax replaces a program that required residents to vote on road projects, instead opting with a tax that all homeowners will have to pay

  • For the average homeowner, officials say the tax would equate between $85 and $100 a year

  • The county has a total of 4,200 lane miles and the plan is to pave, on average, 130 lane miles per year

County leaders recently approved a new countywide tax that changes how much homeowners pay for road improvements. The new tax replaces a program that required residents to vote on road projects.

But the new tax is raising some concerns among existing homeowners.

“Born here, raised here, all my life,” said Lacoochee homeowner Leon Mercer.

Living on what was once a farm, Mercer's home is surrounded by many unpaved roads. But due to the new countywide road tax, that may all change.

Charging homeowners a tax to help with road maintenance, including paving, was a worrying thought for Mercer.

“When they do that, they’re going to put a cul-de-sac at the end and more people are going to want to come down here and buy out some of these pieces like mine and my neighbor’s," said Mercer. "If they sell, that’s the way of life."

But those within Pasco County government say that’s not the case. Instead, under the new tax, roads under the worst condition will be repaired first.

“We’re going to equally base it out throughout five districts, five commissioners," said Pasco County Commissioner Ronald Oakley. "So we’ll get paving in all of these districts that will help all across the county to improve our roads and they very much need to be improved.”

Each homeowner’s tax, Oakley said, will be dependent on their property value.

“It charges $51.84 per $100,000 value," said Oakley. "To let you know what that means to a taxpayer, the median value of homes in Pasco County is $163,579.”

Oakley said for the average homeowner this would equate to between $85 and $100 a year.

Mercer’s only other concern is equal distribution of that tax money. Ensuring that all roads throughout the county are maintained.

“If they do anything, put some money on this side of the county and don’t restrict anybody,” he said.

Pasco County officials say they expect road work to start next year. Also saying they will stop billing property owners during paving projects under the old system.

The county has a total of 4,200 lane miles and county leaders say the plan is to pave an average of 130 lane miles per year.