Politics

Public gives earful on budget

Residents arrive early to speak out on county's plan.

By LOGAN NEILL, Times Staff Writer
Published September 14, 2007

An overflow crowd watches the county's first public hearing on the budget via a television monitor and temporary seating in the atrium of the Hernando County Government building.
	[Maurice Rivenbark | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Maurice Rivenbark | Times] Hernando County Sheriff Richard Nugent looks at budget numbers being displayed during the county's first public hearing at the Hernando County Government building.

BROOKSVILLE - Hilda Patterson came prepared for a long night. She parked a large ball of yarn beside her seat in the third row of the packed County Commission chambers and went to work with her crochet needle.

She was also ready Thursday evening to give commissioners an earful about the proposed county budget. Her gripe revolves around two figures: her $611 monthly Social Security check and her $873 a year county tax bill on her Weeki Wachee Acres home. Without some help from the county, Patterson says she can't make it.

"I want them to know just how bad it really is," said Patterson, who was hoping the commission would support a proposal for a homestead exemption for low-income seniors. "I'm tired of paying their exorbitant, unconscionable salaries when I know that I'm likely to end up homeless."

She was hardly alone in her sentiments.

Residents began showing up at 3 p.m. for the 5 p.m. hearing and were given numbers for their turn to offer a three-minute comment. By 5:30, all of the available seating had long been filled and the overflow rooms were packed as well.

"I'm not surprised by the turnout," said Charlie Gaskin, 54. "People are angry. Here we are in a time when businesses are laying people off and these people aren't paying attention."

Gaskin, who owns Sunshine Heat and Air and has lived in the county for more than 35 years, thinks that budget that allows for up to a 3.5 percent salary increase for county employees is wrong.

"It's an abuse of tax dollars," Gaskin said. "We just can't afford it right now."

Marshall Maeder, owner of an aluminum business in Brooksville, said that it didn't seem fair to guarantee raises for public workers while the private sector was hurting. "I can't remember the last time I got a raise," he said. "How can they justify it?"

Though the county has proposed nearly $9-million in cuts to its spending plan as part of the legislative mandate to scale back property taxes, some felt it wasn't enough.

Blaise Ingoglia, a Hernando County home builder and proponent for leaner government, said he spent the week encouraging like-minded citizens to attend the hearings. As the commission chamber got stuffier from the large number of occupants, Ingoglia assured supporters that 200 bottles of water were on the way.

"There's no doubt we're going to be here for a while," Ingoglia said.

Proof of that could be found outside in the county building's parking lot, where an enterprising pizza shop employee had placed fliers for take-out service on car windshields.

There likely will be a repeat performance on Sept. 27 when the commissioners hold their final hearing and adopt the 2007-08 budget.

Logan Neill can be reached at 848-1435 or lneill@sptimes.com

[Last modified September 13, 2007, 21:03:57]