...and it's not coming from the tropics. On the issue of the Kissimmee Fire Rescue Special Assessment, it appears that the discussion activity has hit a fever pitch this week. We've seen flyers downtown, read newspaper articles,and had many of word of mouth conversations. One theme we've heard several times is that people have discovered that "revenue neutral" and "costs the same" are not interchangeable phrases.We read a quote this morning that appears to be misquoted or misguided. The quote suggested that the fire assessment might be a good thing because it allows city residents to see the cost of individual city services and decide if they felt those services were important. We're talking fire rescue services here, which are a core and necessary function of government. If someone finds the cost of this fee too high, what are their options? Were fees to be used to allow citizens to select services, we'd suggest that the city start with services that are not lifesaving in nature. Perhaps the city could start small, for instance, allowing residents to decide that they would like to opt for a single trash collection day per week, rather than two, if they wanted to reduce costs.
We've heard plenty of predictions as to how packed the commission chamber will be when this issue is discussed next Tuesday, September 25th. Perhaps if the city is looking for some quick money, they'll consider making the cablecast of the live meeting a pay-per-view event.
6 comments:
Pay-Per-View? So Access Osceola is really working this rating thing?
My question that has not been answered is why did they lowere the property tax rate by 33% when then only needed to roll it back 9%?
As a business I do not mind paying some type of additional fee if I know the money is being spend wisely, and that is going to benifit my business in the long run (ie. safer community helps economic development). The problem is that we do not see government spending money in a responsible way.
I also have a problem with the calculation on this fee. Just slapping eight cents onto your square footage seems to be a large mistake. I think there are other factors that should go into this calculation.
Here we again, Call it what you want. Whether an assessment, tax, impact fee or what ever you want to call it. These elected officials are out of control. Let's not forget how great our economy is at the present time. (Just kidding) People are looking for tax decreases not increases.
It's okay to spend $200k on a fountain! Come on! Let's elect some real people that care about US, OUR City and OUR County!
No mater what these people do, they just make it worse. I am glad they are helping the home owners, but as a small business person I am done with this. I think it is time to follow the folks who are moving businesses out to the Loop area, or South Orange. You have to follow the customers, and they are not in this city anymore. Oh yeah, and you can keep your fire fee.
Funny... a fire fee and yet they will cut three firefighters and an arson investigator from the budget. That makes absolutley no sense. A fee for fire service and at the same time a reduction in fire staffing.
I wonder if the folks who live at Eagle Point, Liberty Village and the other developments annexed along Poinciana Blvd realize they are about to be assessed a fire fee for fire services and yet the city allows Osceola County Fire Rescue to cover that area?????
I am sure that when the city annexed in the areas they were told they would get city services such as police, FIRE, sanitation etc...?????????
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