LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

Time Warner cable service unacceptable

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 26, 1999

Editor: On Oct. 17 the Hernando Times carried a letter to the editor charging Time Warner Communications, our cable provider, with suddenly changing some channels. Time Warner exhibits many of the characteristics of a real monopoly.

In addition to changing channels, the firm, which does hold a near monopoly in Hernando County, raised rates some 10 percent, has decided to introduce services we haven't asked for (an information superhighway, they call it), and has interrupted service at key news broadcast hours.

Chances to call Time Warner and register complaints about these problems are usually met by an answering service that makes the caller wait some 20 to 30 minutes.

Someone in an official position should have a serious and lengthy talk with Time Warner about all these effronteries to its consumers.
John A. Herbert, Spring Hill

Exemption for elderly needs to be implemented

Editor: In the 1998 election Floridians overwhelmingly approved a referendum giving counties the option to add up to an additional $25,000 homestead exemption for low-income elderly homeowners, beyond the standard $25,000 homestead deduction.

Other than a brief discussion Commissioner Nancy Robinson and I had about this subject, I haven't heard or seen any activity on this matter from the Hernando County Commission.

More than 31 percent of Hernando's population is 65 or older, but not all (probably a much smaller percentage) of these resident homeowners would qualify for any additional homestead exemption based on their adjusted gross income. This writer does not qualify.

Many of these seniors came to Hernando on fixed incomes, and the rise in sales taxes, food, energy and other normal living costs is starting to depress and deprive a number of our elderly residents the quality of life they envisioned and hoped for when they selected Hernando County as their place to live out the remaining years of their lives.

Businesses recognize the stringent financial straits of the elderly. Why else a senior citizen special price at the movies, certain retail stores, hotels, amusement parks and even car rental agencies?

Even the federal government recognizes the limitation on income for those more than 65 years old. On Internal Revenue Service Form 1040, line 35A has a box to be checked if the taxpayer, and/or spouse is older than 65, with a standard deduction dollar amount based on the number of exemptions.

A recent Polk County study detailed three areas where the county would receive more tax income than the cost of the services rendered by the county: business, retirees and high-valued residences.

In Hernando County the recent one-half-cent school sales tax was passed with many retirees voting "yes," and these same retirees are paying this additional one-half-cent tax, plus the regular school taxes, having no children attending our schools.

Therefore, no actual perceived benefit to this same valuable asset to our county, our retirees.

As stated previously, I believe a minority of our senior residents would qualify.

What percentage of the overall population? That should be determined by a county-directed survey.

A fact-finding circular could be sent with our 1999 county real estate tax notices.

If that option is too late, since the tax notices will be going out shortly, then public notices in the media and to homeowners associations will get the message out.

The time is now so we can discuss, approve and get everything in place in plenty of time for the 2000 tax notices.

It's fair, equitable and needed for those retirees who have been short-changed on their pensions (if any) and Social Security.
Dom Cabriele, Brooksville

Outside audit sought for county government

Editor: Re: Make the doubters pay for county audit, Sept. 30 letter to the editor from Dom Cabriele refering to the request by 700-plus petition signers seeking to have a secondary audit of county finances:

This is a misstatement. The petition was for an outside audit. If Hernando County government chooses to have another audit it is at their pleasure.

The county has used its current auditing firm for the past 20 years.

Commissioners and government come and go and mistakes are made; there is potential for mistakes.

Let us look at what happened this year.

Approximately $30-million was found in various departments. It was vehemently denied that these funds existed.

Though it was argued these funds never existed, when discovered we were told they had been "allocated" or were "encumbered."

How could this happen if they never existed?

If the writer checked more accurately he would find a department head, upon learning a particular project was going to be "taken off the table" due to lack of revenue, let it be known there was $1,700,000 put away toward this project.

Thus followed a search for a similar practice and eventually the total uncommitted funds were anywhere from $20- to $30-million, as indicated. These now became committed funds.

The editor of one of our local papers indicated the "apathy on the part of we the people gives us the government we get."

Mr. Cabriele would go beyond apathy and literally remove citizens' right of participation.

The last time I looked at the Statue of Liberty it was shining brightly in the harbor; it welcomes the downtrodden, it welcomes those with hope, it welcomes their participation. If one looks carefully it doesn't say "put you money where your mouth is." It does not say "nitpicker go home."

It says welcome to a land of participation, welcome to the land of freedom of speech, welcome to the land of expression, you are welcome to a land of unlimited opportunity.
Rachel Rodriguez, Spring Hill

Proposed cement plant includes tall smokestack

Editor: Re: State: Cleanup at asphalt plant will take years, Oct. 18 article by staff writer Amy Schatz:

The article referring to the proposed cement plant complex north of town neglects to mention that the proposed complex would have a 285-foot tall smokestack, which would be visible from Brooksville.
Eva Spera, Brooksville

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