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Today's Letters: It's time to look for fresh ideas
Letters to the Editor
Published November 9, 2007
Re: Tax plan debate is over; begin the road debate, Oct. 31 Jeff Webb column
The issues Mr. Webb brings to the forefront are only the tip of the iceberg. The major issues deal with the people who are going to make the decisions that will affect each and every person in Hernando County.
Our new Hernando County administrator, to be effective, must be independent of political influence. This also applies to the administration's department heads, especially our Planning Department and our appointed Planning & Zoning Commission members (whose tenure should be limited to four years). Too many times these commission members move from one chair to the next and remain with the same ideas and perspective they have had for many years.
It is time to bring new ideas and perspectives to the development of Hernando County.
Mr. Webb touched upon the subject of taxes and fees as a source of revenue. Fees target certain users of county services. Again, if fees are increased or new ones are introduced, all we are doing is substituting one form of taxation for another. The main objective of our county government is to have managed growth with the tax burden equally distributed, but most important a constituency and business environment that is diversified.
Hernando County must embark upon bringing in manufacturing and service corporations that will provide more than 10 jobs offering more than minimum wage. Give incentives to these corporations for a period of time, then place them on the tax rolls. At least future revenues would be guaranteed, not like the real estate corporations who come in, develop the land and leave the tax burden to the homeowners and take all their profits with them when they leave. Manufacturing and service corporations will reinvest in the community.
I also agree with a gas tax increase. But the county commissioners, for political reasons, don't. The question is, "Who gets affected by this increase?" The answer is, "Only those who work outside the county." The most someone working in Hernando will be affected is a maximum of 18 cents a week, or $9 a year for 50 weeks' work. That calculation considers if your roundtrip is 30 miles per day, five days a week, and you work 50 weeks a year, and your vehicle gets 25 miles per gallon.
The big question, as Mr. Webb stated months ago, is do we sacrifice our roads to a nonissue for political grandstanding? People of Hernando County, get informed.
Vito J. Delgorio Sr.,
Spring Hill
[Last modified November 8, 2007, 20:05:54]
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