Leaders Look To Legislators On Insurance

By AMY ROUNDTREE The Suncoast News

Published: Jan 2, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Two city leaders and other local representatives could be headed to Tallahassee to address the Legislature on property insurance rates.

Mayor Dan Tipton and Councilwoman Ginny Miller expressed interest in attending the legislative meetings on Jan. 16 and 17, although Tipton said his schedule may not allow him to attend.

Jan. 16, the first day of the special legislative session on property insurance, will be a regular city council meeting night, but City Manager Scott Miller said both council members could attend the Tallahassee meeting without changing the city's meeting schedule.

"They only need three members to hold a meeting," Miller said. "Whether they want to or not, that's up to the council and I expect they'll discuss that at a meeting before the trip."

In Port Richey, Councilwoman Phyllis Grae and Councilman Steve O'Neill also discussed going to Tallahassee.

Pasco County Commissioner Michael Cox and state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, were among a group of elected officials who visited both cities to gain more members for the delegation.

"Senator Fasano strongly advocated for the Legislature acting immediately to address the homeowners insurance crisis head-on," said Greg Giordano, the lawmaker's chief legislative aide.

Specifically, Giordano said, the Legislature needs to repeal the portion of state law that requires Citizens Property Insurance, the state-backed insurer of last resort, to raise its rates based on the cost of reinsurance coverage.

Unlike most private insurers, Citizens does not purchase reinsurance coverage, Giordano said.

He added that Fasano is encouraging Pasco residents to make their voices heard regarding insurance rates.

"Pasco and Hernando counties are some of the hardest hit counties in the state," Giordano said.

Other members of the county commission who could attend include Commissioner Jack Mariano and commission Chairwoman Ann Hildebrand.

"The more the merrier," City Manager Miller said. "But I suggest you get room reservations right away. It's going to be a busy time."

New Port Richey City Council members recently declined to adopt a resolution encouraging local governments to endorse sinkhole insurance rate reform.

Hildebrand had asked the city to consider the resolution.

Councilwoman Miller questioned the resolution's purpose. Other council members joined her in opting to table the item until meeting this month, so they could more thoroughly inspect the document.

"We, as a body, have a different interpretation of the issue than the county," Miller said in explaining her hesitation.

"I think it's important the Legislature hears our perspective," she said.

Tipton said city leaders had adopted a resolution regarding property insurance rates, but Miller, the city manager, said the more recent resolution was aimed specifically at sinkhole insurance.

Citizens executives have said soaring sinkhole damage claims from Pasco residents have been the major contributing factor behind rate increases in the county.

Although Councilman Tom Lackey did not express interest in attending the January legislative session, he did have comments about the insurance situation.

"It's a never-ending circle of doom," he said. "Over one-third of people in Pasco County have no insurance, so there's no place to spread the risk."