Pasco County Libraries Master Plan and Impact Fee Analysis

PGA developed a master plan that will help Pasco County Libraries and the county continue to provide high-quality library services to all residents of Pasco County, even as the county’s population grows.

The Master Plan looks out 20 years and compares the forecasted growth to the existing services, as well as state library standards. Pasco County currently operates nine branch libraries. With an anticipated population of nearly 800,000 people by 2045, many more branches, staff members, programs, and items (books and beyond) will be needed to meet demand and maintain the same caliber of service. PGA’s Planning Group analyzed how many branches will be needed and where they should be located, approximately, to allow the most residents to have access.

Our team worked closely with library administration and staff, as well as the people of Pasco County, with two rounds of creative public engagement and a third round aimed at people who don’t currently use the library system’s services. We conducted personal interviews, attended community events, and reached out to people of all ages about their vision for Pasco County’s libraries.

The Master Plan work included an in-depth exploration of funding mechanisms and illustrative funding scenarios to help stakeholders make informed investments in Pasco County’s future. And that led to an additional task to help decision-makers better understand how impact fees could fund Pasco County’s goals for their library services, particularly in light of recent legislative changes at the state level. PGA is working with 3TPVentures on the Impact Fee Analysis.