City Paying For Council Members' Ride in Chasco

New Port Richey city council members decided Tuesday to spend $3,000 of general fund money on the creation of a float council members will ride in during the Chasco Fiesta street parade.

The Chasco Fiesta street parade is a popular part of Chasco Fiesta, the annual multi-day festival in downtown New Port Richey.

The city has historically participated in it with a float that council members ride on. When negotiating the city budget this past summer, city leaders cut funding for the float.

City subsidies in support of Chasco Fiesta have been a touchy subject in City Hall.

New Port Richey City Council members have debated cutting subsidies of city services that support the multi-day festival in recent years. The debate sparked backlash from planners, fans and supporters of Chasco.

During the budget process, city leaders agreed to allocate $30,000 toward subsidies of services supporting the 2013 Chasco Fiesta, which is coming up in April.

But on Tuesday, the City Council voted unanimously to pay to have a float in the parade. The item was on the consent agenda.

The money for the float will come from the city’s general fund, and the parks and recreation department will build it.

What do you think of the city's decision to pay for a float in the parade?