Marlowe Jones New Port Richey 2027

A big thank you to the residents of Pasco County who continue to show up and stand for our community and the environment we all share. We love Pasco County, and we appreciate everyone who keeps speaking out and making their voices heard.

Keep standing up and speaking your truth. This is the land of the free and the home of the brave. It is your constitutional right to speak, organize, and hold elected officials accountable. This is our community, and together we will continue to protect it.

MJ

3.24.26 Pasco County Board of County Commissioner Meeting Pasco Board of County Commissioners Meeting from March 24, 2026, in...

DATE CHANGE to Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at 6 PM due to the fact that the ordinance has been delayed for the agenda.

Last week, for the second time since November, city staff delayed the Boost Backyards ordinance that would enable responsible homeowners to build small backyard homes, known as accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

ADUs have become a practical solution in addressing our nation’s affordability crisis, but many homeowners trying to build one are running into roadblock after roadblock from financing limitations to city red tape. The Boost Backyards ordinance would mean removing one of these roadblocks by making it possible for families to create modest housing on land they already own.

Many of the traditional rental properties in our city are being bought up by predatory corporations who live somewhere else, who have no real buy-in to New Port Richey, and who turn the keys over to outsiders with no connection to the community. Under the Boost Backyards ordinance, accessory dwelling units offer something different. They are primarily built by homeowners who live in New Port Richey, who have a family history here, and who want to build multi-generational pride in our city.

ADUs are for the grandmother who wants to downsize and live closer to family. They are for the nephew or daughter studying at a nearby college. They are for the family friend moving back home to teach at a local school.

Across the country, leaders from both parties have begun to recognize that slow government and outdated rules have made it too hard for working people to Afford the Dream. Just this year in Tallahassee, Republicans and Democrats in the state Senate together on CS 313 to cut red tape around ADUs and protect homeowners from excessive property tax increases. The bill fell short in the state House but will come back for a second pass next year. Later this year, Congress will consider the Supply Act, a bipartisan bill to expand financing options for backyard cottages, granny flats, in-law suites, and converted garages. In a time when it is becoming rare to see elected officials put down their party insignia and work together, ADUs offer one of those rare moments of common ground.

New Port Richey should meet that moment.

The Boost Backyards ordinance would diversify and increase the housing stock, lower costs, and help homeowners supplement their income to afford their mortgage and fix up their homestead. It would help parents care for aging relatives and give college students a safe place to start. It would also offer a housing option to the nearly 900 families who lost everything to Hurricane Milton. And it would do so without asking developers to pave over our natural environment or historic waterfront.

We need to make it clear that the city council must pass the Boost Backyards ordinance without any further delay. Please join us at City Hall on Tuesday, June 16 at 6 pm. RSVP link in the comments.

Something Good we can all agree on😇

As sprawling development from the Tampa Bay suburbs creeps into more rural areas, Pasco County recently announced the acquisition of nearly 1,900 acres of land for conservation purposes. https://www.wfla.com/news/pasco-county/pasco-county-buys-nearly-1900-acres-of-land-for-conservation/

Thank you to the wonderful congregation at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tarpon Springs for inviting me to serve as a guest speaker at yesterday’s service. It was an honor to share reflections on liberation, peace, and the importance of team building in our communities.

I always enjoy the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with such a welcoming and thoughtful group of people. Thank you for your commitment to justice, compassion, and community. It is truly a pleasure to spend time with all of you and to connect with the broader communities of Tarpon Springs and Pasco County.

Together, we can continue building bridges, strengthening relationships, and creating a future rooted in love, peace, freedom, and liberation.

"Liberation, Peace, & Team Building" - June 7, 2026 - Marlowe Jones Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Don’t think we won’t be affected by this please do your research. 🧐

Florida voters face a major tax decision in November.
Responding to affordability concerns, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and the state legislature have placed a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that could dramatically reshape how local governments are funded.

The measure would phase in a homestead exemption starting at $150,000 in 2027 and rising to $250,000 in 2028, with the Legislature given authority to eventually eliminate property taxes on primary residences altogether.

Property taxes currently make up nearly 75 percent of local tax revenue in Florida.

The state would likely need steep sales tax hikes to compensate — our prior analysis found full property tax elimination could push the combined state-local sales tax rate to over 15 percent, the highest in the nation.

This isn't tax relief; instead, it is a shift of the tax burden. The cost of local government services is not eliminated through taking away a share of the local property tax base.

Local government services will still need to be funded, requiring increased reliance on other types of revenue sources such the sales tax and increased fees.

While a proposal to phase down property taxes on homesteads may grab headlines, it risks severely undermining the competitiveness of Florida’s overall tax structure and leaving the state worse off.

Read more: https://taxfoundation.org/blog/florida-property-tax-proposal/

FYI

City Council will conduct a work session on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at 4PM in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 5919 Main Street.
Agenda items include:
Strategic Plan Updates

The complete agenda packet and meeting may be viewed at https://www.cityofnewportrichey.org/Government/Meeting-Information