Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Pasco County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
4 issues in public safety
Lack of a Level 1 trauma center in Pasco County
A retired firefighter-paramedic told the commission Pasco ranks near the bottom for EMS and fire response and has no Level 1 trauma center, forcing airlifts to Tampa General. Staff noted the county is considering dedicated helicopter hangar space, but hospital trauma staffing is outside county authority.
Dengue fever response
Tampa Bay is seeing its largest local mosquito-borne illness outbreak in decades, with 170 confirmed cases in Hillsborough, 7 in Pinellas, and 2 in Pasco. The county extended its emergency declaration to keep flexibility for mosquito control and emergency management, and residents are being asked to dump standing water on their own properties every few days.
Beacon Woods Coachwood Village crime and nuisance property
Neighbors described months of drug activity, a June murder, trash, rodents, and safety fears around a Castlebury Court home whose owner died in 2025. Residents pleaded for code enforcement and sheriff action, with some saying they'd sell and leave.
Automated License Plate Reader (Flock) Surveillance
Public commenters raised privacy and civil-liberties concerns about the Sheriff's Office flock cameras and license plate readers, prompting discussion of a possible workshop and citizen oversight committee.