Letter: County Administrator Wants to Hear from You

To the Editor:

During the past four years Pasco County has invested significant time and energy changing the way we do business to ensure efficiency, accountability and transparency during these difficult times. We share a vision to become Florida’s premier county for balanced economic growth, environmental sustainability
and first class customer service.

The Board of County Commissioners developed a Strategic Plan in 2009, based on significant citizen input, that is focused on the issues you thought were most important: jobs and economic development, financial sustainability, growth management, customer service levels, transportation, and environmental
protection. As this strategic planning cycle comes to a close, we need your input on how we are doing in addressing those objectives.

We are committed to achieving our common vision for Pasco County and to “Bringing Opportunities Home.” During the next several months we will begin preparing for our next strategic planning cycle.

In order to set our goals for the next four years, we need your input on the issues you believe are most important to our community. We need you to become informed and get involved and let your voices be heard through our online survey, stakeholder meetings, and focus groups.

Over the past two weeks, the National Research Center, Inc. on behalf of Pasco County, has mailed more than 1,200 surveys to a random sample of citizens. The National Citizen Survey includes a series of questions on service areas and quality of service delivered. If you received a survey we urge you to
complete it and return it.

Additionally, we have launched an online survey to allow all residents the opportunity to express their opinions. The online survey contains the same questions as the National Citizen Survey, plus a few additional questions. The online survey can be accessed on the County Home Page or by visiting
www.bringingopportunitieshome.com

In March, we are asking citizens and business owners to attend one of three meetings on March 22, 27 or 29. The evening engagements will discuss the survey results and discuss the trends revealed by your answers. The community meetings will be held at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center in Land
O’ Lakes, the Historic Courthouse in Dade City, and the West Pasco Government Center in New Port Richey. For specific times please go to our website at www.bringingopportunitieshome.com or like us on Facebook at “Bringing Opportunities Home to Pasco County,” to follow our updates.

It is vital that our citizens' voices are heard as we move through the current planning and budget process. Your feedback will directly impact decisions that must be made regarding the future growth and development of Pasco County, as well as services that can be provided in this economic climate.

The survey results and feedback from public meetings will be compiled into a draft report that will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners in May. The final results will also be posted to the website above, on Facebook and also at www.pascocountyfl.net.

Pasco County values citizen input and I appreciate your time and effort to share your ideas and views with us. If you are unable to attend one of the community meetings or take the survey, please visit our website, click on the Customer Comment card and submit your feedback there. You can also follow our
progress on our Government TV channel. Our Pasco 360 program will keep you updated on meetings, focus groups and the survey results through the planning and budget process.

As always, we look forward to hearing from you as we strive to keep “Bringing Opportunities Home” to Pasco County.

John J. Gallagher
County Administrator