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Whether one agrees with the current Crystal River City Council or not, we should not lose sight of the fact that, clearly, the majority of the voters of the city of Crystal River decided who should represent them on city affairs at the last election.
Obviously, the citizens were tired of the status quo.
While there have been many valid reasons argued against changes in the city, those opinions seem to be based on emotion with zero tolerance for conventional wisdom. The fact was (and still is) the city government was stagnant and was not functioning properly.
The City Council is finally in a position to make the changes we have needed for a long time. The council is still divided on many issues; however, there is now a majority who can and will move the city forward.
A good place to start would be a little more respect on the council. If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem.
At last, we have the people in place to improve the city and make it a better place for all of us to live and work. I feel confident that with the clear minds currently dominating the City Council good things are going to happen.
The Fiscal Watch Committee of the Citrus County Council wants to thank all of our government officials who met with us to accommodate our requests for financial information.
To date we have met with the following Citrus County budget entities and administrative and financial staff: County Administrator Richard Wesch; Sheriff Jeff Dawsy; Clerk of Courts Betty Strifler; Property Appraiser Melanie Hensley; Tax Collector Janice Warren; and Supervisor of Elections Susan Gill.
We were very pleased with the support and cooperation they offered. Our committee objectives are to increase public awareness; investigate and educate; open the process for public scrutiny; and accomplish fiscal responsibility within taxing entities.
The committee is trying not to be disruptive in the budget process. We are working with and within the various institutions. We are phasing our efforts into the timetable already established.
The budget process for the county government's fiscal year 2005-06 started on Jan. 10. Those citizens who want to be informed about the county's fiscal plan should mark their calendar with the following dates. The first major public event is April 26 to present the planned Capitol Improvement Projects to the BOCC. A BOCC budget workshop is planned for May 17 to review and make recommendations.
On July 15, the county administrator will present his recommendations to the BOCC. Setting tentative millage rates and finalizing revenue estimates by the BOCC will be July 27. The first public hearing to adopt the tentative budget is Sept. 15 with the second public hearing to adopt the final budget Sept. 27.
Anyone interested in the Fiscal Watch Committee activities can call 564-0267 for information. The Citrus County Council meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 9 a.m. in the Beverly Hills Lions Club.
St. Patrick's Day is a time when everyone in Citrus County joins in celebrating Irish heritage. At Bernie Little Distributing, we would like to say "thank you" to the 122-million American adults who have been a designated driver or have been driven home by one.
According to a national survey by the Data Development Corp., 93 percent of Americans believe promoting the use of designated drivers is an excellent or good way to reduce drunk driving.
By working together, we continue to make progress in the fight against drunken driving. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the number of fatalities in drunken-driving crashes has declined 38 percent since 1982.
We're winning the fight against drunken driving, but there's more work to be done. So, before we make a toast in tribute to St. Patrick, let's look out for one another by drinking responsibly and designating a driver.
Remember, responsibility matters!
[Last modified March 16, 2005, 01:31:14]
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