Letters to the Editors

Sullivan: Tax revenue is taxpayers' money

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 18, 2000

Editor: Re: Property tax rate rollback's delay is a wise move, July 16 opinion column by Jeff Webb.

Less than two months ago, the Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to set a goal of reducing the property tax, directing the county administrator and budget officer to cut the property tax rate by at least 1/4 mil for the next tax year. A commitment had been made to Hernando County's taxpayers.

Electioneering had nothing to do with my vote. Since being elected to the commission, I have a record of consistently advocating larger tax cuts because of the county's history of underestimating revenues and overestimating expenses, resulting in a large surplus at the end of the fiscal year.

Cutting property taxes encourages growth and it is growth that pays for new programs, if needed.

Regardless of the amount returned to taxpayers, it's their money. Shouldn't they have the opportunity to determine where and when it's spent?
-- Paul H. Sullivan, chairman,Hernando County Commission

Webb's column shows media working the angles

Editor: Re: Property tax rate rollback's delay is a wise move:

Jeff Webb's column left me totally bewildered. The media keeps up a constant drum beat against elected officials keeping their word. Yet, when a shining example appears, you do your best to paint a dark shadow.

Case in point, the County Commission directed County Administrator Paul McIntosh and Budget Officer George Zoettlien to present the commission a county budget that included an 0.25 millage decrease in property taxes. Later, when the county administrator presented the tentative budget to the commission, he stated they may not want to adopt the new tax rate with the 0.25 mil decrease because during the budget hearings they may decide to increase actual spending. In other words, to renege on the promise they had made.

True to form, the Democrats sitting on the dais agreed to adopt the higher rate, but the Republicans held steady to the commission's promise to Hernando County taxpayers. Republicans Paul Sullivan and Bobbi Mills fought a good battle but were outvoted. They kept their word.

As a Republican leader, I am proud our Republican members of the commission did their very best to hold firm to the commitment that each member of the commission had originally promised. I do agree that the millage decrease is a nominal amount, but I do disagree with Webb that any excess funds should remain in the county government's money vault. He seems to lose sight that the taxpayer's money is just that -- taxpayer's money.

I will close with Webb's closing statement followed by my own. He stated: "Now it's up to conscientious taxpayers to double-check the angles being worked here."

Yes, I think we all can agree. Once again, it's the media working the angles.
-- Terry L. Hammond,Hernando Beach

Government should do more on health issues

Editor: Now it comes to light -- I was under the assumption that all people were created equal under the constitution. Now we find out we are not. To wit:

AvMed HMO is pulling out of Hernando County. Humana HMO is pulling out at the end of the year. Why? We in Hernando County are a lower class of people in the eyes of the government. But then, Florida is not the only state where discrimination against small populated counties of this United States takes place.

In Florida, Miami HMOs get approximately four times the reimbursement from Medicare as we do in Hernando County. Do we all have to move to Miami so we poor underclass populists can get the medical coverage we are entitled to?

Why are our prescription drugs so high? Pharmaceutical companies need large profits to cover research, so they say. If this is the case, then tell us why you can buy American brand drugs in Mexico for 75 percent less (I have bought them there) than in the U.S. Let me assure you they make money from selling their drugs in Mexico or they wouldn't be there. Even the Veterans Administration spends less for drugs than Medicare has to pay for them. Again, equalization?

U.S. Rep. Karen Thurman, D-Dunnellon, has been trying to get something done about this situation for years. The government has cut down Microsoft founder Bill Gates; isn't it time the government cut down the pharmaceutical companies and equalized Medicare for all people?

We need to let our voices be heard at the polls. I have not heard anything from either party on this matter. They forget seniors carry a large portion of votes in this country. Let them know what you think about their do-nothing policy.
-- Lesley Varwig,Brooksville

State lawmakers silent about HMOs' departure

Editor: We have a very serious problem here in Hernando County. On Jan. 1 we no longer will have an HMO available to us.

We have not heard a word from our state legislators. Where are they?
-- Joseph J. Nicholas,Spring Hill

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