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Today's Letters: Speak now to help hold down taxes

Letters to the Editor
Published September 7, 2007

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Speak now to help hold down taxes

As one member of the Hernando County Commission, I am writing this letter to solicit input from the critics of local government. In particular, I am seeking specific guidance from them to assist me in addressing our budget for fiscal year 2007-08.

Many in Hernando County, including me, would like to pay less in taxes, especially ad valorem taxes. As a county commissioner, I am required to approve a millage to generate ad valorem taxes for county services. It is clear to me that a substantial number of Hernando County residents support a reduction in ad valorem taxes. While there is consensus on a reduction, there is no consensus on where the cuts or reductions should occur. Generally speaking, everyone wants to reduce revenues for programs that do not affect them.

I am willing to consider all reasonable proposals. More specifically, I respectfully request that residents provide the following to me:

1. In order of priority, please identify each program that needs to have its budget reduced;

2. For each program identified, please list the amount of ad valorem funding to be reduced;

3. For each amount of ad valorem funding to be reduced, please identify if the funding reduction should include any staff positions. If staff positions are to be eliminated, please identify the number of positions to be eliminated.

I hope your readers will provide me with this list, which includes a total reduction that is in excess of the amount of reduction you desire, so that I will have alternatives if I do not agree with one or more of your proposed reductions.

Should you have any questions about this request, please let me know: e-mail jstabins@hernandocounty.us or call 754-4002.

Jeff StabinsCounty commissioner, District 1

Hold fire district vote in January

As a resident of Spring Hill it becomes wearisome to hear what is best for us from those outside Spring Hill. I have lived here 10 years, and yes, am a bit more privy to the outstanding skills of our fire department because I am one of their chaplains for the past seven years.

But I don't write in that capacity, but rather as a taxpaying father and husband with six children living in Spring Hill.

I don't mean to take to task those who say November of next year is best for the vote on our fire department, but I strongly disagree.

First, there are more snowbirds here in January than in November, for those who argue that more would be here to vote. I pastor a church and every year, most often after Christmas, those who live up north arrive here in the largest droves. With the super homestead referendum on the January ballot, that will bring everyone to the polls. What better time to vote on it? It will be after the county's independent research project is completed. And we're smart enough to read it, digest it and decide by January.

And I will give one more very critical reason to have it in January. It's simply this: our firefighters have, for the past several years, been trashed over and over and often by some who have had worse skeletons in their own closets. These men and women, as well as the residents of Spring Hill, deserve closure. We have endured the attempt to take our dispatchers, to dismantle our elected fire commissioners, and constant threats to undo our status. These men and women deserve to have it put to rest.

This may be only my opinion, but all that would happen if it were put off till next November is it would buy time for those who see Spring Hill as a cash cow to try to spin a new web. I, as a resident, not as a chaplain, want it resolved. I think county Commissioner Chris Kingsley was a big man to step up and join two other commissioners in considering letting the matter be resolved sooner rather than later. And I hope commissioners David Russell Jr., and Rose Rocco will, too.

The commissioners have taken a lot of hits of late, and I would encourage them to reach inside, find that extra and give the residents of Spring Hill the right to resolve a Spring Hill issue. Please don't let the editorial rants of one make that decision.

Jack Martin, Spring Hill

[Last modified September 6, 2007, 20:13:10]

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