Gimme A Break

An article in the the Osceola County section of the Orlando Sentinel today by staff writer Mary Shanklin is probably one of the best investigative reports on Osceola County the WayneWho staff has seen from any of the local media in some time. The article titled "Lawmaker: I didn't try to shave tax bill on my land" details the actions of Rep. Frank Attkisson and his possible attempt to save on his tax bill by creating legislation that removed minimum size requirements on agricultural tax breaks. Apparently after Mr. Attkisson's wife was turned down for the agricultural tax break for their hobby farm on the outside of St. Cloud, he quickly worked to introduce legislation, and then drive it through, that prohibits property appraisers from considering size for farm tax breaks. Of course now that Mr. Attkission has been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, he has promised not to partake in the exemption himself. The one thing that most residents know about politicians is that promises made are promises rarely kept if they are no longer convenient to do so.

On the flip side of this argument is the claim by Rep. Attkission that this legislation was to help small farm owners navigate a patchwork of "county" policies that govern who qualifies for agricultural exemptions. His idea is that this new legislation will help to slow growth and development by lowering taxes on agricultural lands so ranchers have less financial pressures to sell to developers (and their political partners).

So let us get this straight, Rep. Attkission has found a legal way to help control growth in the county even though we have been told for years that this was not possible. He also notes in the article that it is problems with county policies that, again, the state has had to step in and fix to help our local community. Amazing.

We will let our readers draw their own conclusions on the ethical standing of Rep. Attkission. It appears that possibly by accident, a piece of legislation has passed that is actually for the people. We are excited that Ms. Shanklin's article brought honest thought to all of the issues and we ask that Ms. Shanklin give lessons to the rest of the writers and editorial board on how to properly put together an article. We would also hope that our other local periodicals, St. Cloud In The News and The Osceola News-Gazette would take a look at this article to see what being a journalist is all about.

The WayneWho staff say thanks.